Governor Uba Sani has advised elected local government council chairmen to distribute dividends of democracy, irrespective of political affiliation, gender, religious beliefs, or ethnic background.
Mr Sani gave the charge during the swearing-in ceremony of the chairmen on Friday, saying that their allocation would be published to the public to ensure accountability and transparency.
“You are taking charge as captains of local governments when the third tier of government has been granted financial autonomy.
“Your allocation from the Federation Account will be public knowledge, necessitating transparency and accountability. Be available, accessible, responsive, and fair in your dealings,’’ he added.
According to him, local government chairmen are grassroots leaders who are closest to the people, “so they should be the people’s voices, advocates, and champions”.
‘’Listen to their concerns, address their fears, and harness their potential. Empower the people to participate in governance and ensure their voices are heard. In the words of Robert W. Flack, “Local government is the foundation of democracy; if it fails, democracy will fail,” he pointed out.
The governor implored the chairmen to provide rural infrastructure, boost agriculture, and build and upgrade health centres as well as primary schools in their council areas.
Mr Sani also enjoined them to align with the state government’s rural transformation agenda and link up communities not covered by state roads.
“During your campaigns, you engaged with communities, listened to their concerns, and received feedback on their needs.
“I charge you to prioritise these needs, guided by the principles of equity, inclusivity, transparency, and accountability.
“You are assuming office at a critical time when our people expect a great deal from politicians and leaders. It is your responsibility to restore their faith in politics and local governance,” he reminded.
While congratulating the chairmen, he urged the people of Kaduna State to hold their “leaders accountable, demand transparency, participate in the budgeting process, and insist on quality service delivery.”
He also encouraged the council bosses to always engage stakeholders, noting that it is crucial in ensuring transparency, accountability, and quality service delivery in the local governments.’
