Yobe state Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam has sworn in newly elected council chairmen of the 17 Local Government Areas of the state.
Performing the ceremony at the government house in Damaturu, the Governor cautioned against financial autonomy for Nigeria’s Local Governments.
Supporters of the elected chairmen and other well-wishers across the state and beyond stormed the venue of the swearing in to give the elected chairmen moral support on their day of glory.
The chairmen took the oath of office, assuring that they will justify the confidence the people reposed in them.
In his speech after the swearing in, Governor Gaidam said the issue of Local Government autonomy has remained a contentious issue in the country and suggested that it should be handled with caution as elected chairmen could sometimes be financially reckless to the detriment of the people.
He urged the chairmen to enhance revenue generation, revitalise the education sector, health care services, agriculture and continue the laudable initiatives of the state government aimed at improving the lives of the people.
The governor also tasked them to utilised their allocation to influence infrastructure development in their councils and fight the ghost worker syndrome.
The Governor commended the Yobe state Independent Electoral Commission for holding a successful election and also praised security agents and well-meaning people of the state for ensuring a successful polls, saying it is a thing of pride that the state has joined the league of other sister states that have entrenched democracy at the grassroots.
