Ugwuanyi cautions against sharp practices in local councils

Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, has cautioned chairmen, councilors and clerks in the state’s 17 local council areas against sharp practices that may jeopardize the smooth running of the local government system.He gave the charge while declaring open a two-day Legislative Capacity Building Retreat for council chairmen, councilors and clerks in the state.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Gabriel Ajah, the governor told them to be honest and straight forward if they desire to make it in life.While commending the organisers of the programme, he said it would equip the participants in their various roles in the administration of their various councils and enhance relationships between chairmen, councilors and the clerks.

Addressing the participants, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi, urged the councilors to eschew confrontation with their chairmen, stressing that confrontation would not bring peace but anarchy.He encouraged the chairmen to be open and transparent in the discharge of their duties to avoid being hunted by anti-graft agencies after their tenure in office for one form of fraud or the other.

Ubosi, however, charged the council chairmen to reside in their areas to enhance smooth running of their councils.Speaking, Special Adviser to the governor on Legislative Matters, Martins Oke, whose office organised the retreat, said it became necessary because of the prime position of the local government system, as the nursery bed of future political and community leaders.

He, however, observed that most of the elected council chairmen and councilors come in with almost zero government and public service experience.“Their capacity, therefore, need to be enhanced and sharpened through workshops, seminars and retreats for better understanding of and contribution to administrative processes, hence this retreat,” he added.