YENAGOA – The Bayelsa Government on Friday charged chairmen of the state’s eight local government areas to concentrate on projects and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of rural dwellers. The Commissioner for Local Government Administration, Chief Mitema Obordor, gave the charge during a meeting with the chairmen in his office in Yenagoa. He explained that the reason for the creation of the local government areas was to bring governance and development closer to the rural communities. Obordor urged the council chairmen to invest in projects that would not require huge financial outlay in view of the dwindling federal allocations to the council. He said projects such as health centres, medium- size jetty and concrete walkways for riverine communities would go a long way in alleviating the challenges facing the people. The commissioner advised the chairmen to create public awareness for ongoing projects and informed them that Gov. Seriake Dickson was looking forward to inaugurating council projects. Obordor commended the chairmen for providing welfare for the legislative arms of their councils, and urged them to train councilors in the basic skills required for effective and efficient conduct of their legislative duties. Responding on behalf of the other chairmen, Chief Chubby Ben -Walson, the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Area, thanked the commissioner for his commitment to the development of the areas. He described Obordor’s appointment as a “round peg in a round hole’’ in view of his experience at the third tier of government. Ben-Walson, who is also the state chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, assured the commissioner of their readiness to work with him to achieve set objectives. Mr Nathan Ayebakeme, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, called for collaboration between the chairmen and the ministry to ensure uniformity in the implementation of government’s policies. (NAN)
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