Following the dissolution of Local Government Councils by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Governor Udom Emmanuel has inaugurated a Transition Committee to oversee the affairs of the area councils. The Transition Committee for each of the area Councils has nine members including Chairman and a Secretary.
The Governor while inaugurating the Committee, charged members to work in accordance with the constitutional provisions that created Local governments by brining government and development closer to the people.
The State Governor justified inclusion of past Council Chairmen in the committee on the need for them to boost grassroots government with their wealth of experience. He remarked that it is not possible for everybody to benefit in appointment and urged the transition chairmen to liaise with Elders of their localities and nominate people to be sent to Israel for training in various vocations, stressing that his government is concerned with empowerment rather than appointment.
He however, decried the current trend of abdication of responsibilities by some Council Chairmen, stressing that some of them only show up in offices when allocation comes to the council and advised them to be alive to their responsibilities. He warned the Chairmen not to embark on capital projects but should inject governance into their areas by providing quality services that touch on the lives of the people such as road rehabilitation, primary healthcare services, rural electrification as well as protection of government facilities from vandalisation.
While appreciating the immediate past council members for their selfless services, Governor Emmanuel advised the incoming counterparts to see their appointments as a call to service rather than a reward for political patronage. He congratulated them and wished them a smooth tenure of office.