Date: 2008-11-24

Six Local Government Councils in Kwara State have been given marching orders to improve on their performance or be sanctioned according to the law.   

Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki handed down the marching orders on Monday at a meeting with the 16 Councils Chairmen at Government House, Ilorin.   

According to the Governor, the Six Council areas whose performances were considered to be short of the expected standard are Asa, Edu, Ekiti,Ilorin East, Moro and Patigi.   

He charged the Chairmen to brace up and make significant impact on the lives of the people in their domains, making specific reference to the provisions of potable water, electricity and quality education, which the State Government set as priority areas for Local Government Councils in the State.   

Dr Saraki commended the Chairmen of Ilorin West, Ilorin South, Oyun, Irepodun and Kaiama Local Government Councils for their satisfactory performances at utilising their excess crude money wisely in line with the priority areas set by the State Government.  

"We must provide water, electricity and education. We have also resolved to assist you in the recruitment of more doctors", the governor said, adding that the Chairmen must complete residential houses for the doctors to be recruited.   

The meeting, which was at the instance of Governor Saraki was a follow up to an earlier meeting held with the Local Government Liaison officers and Youth Empowerment Coordinators, stressing the need to continue to focus on the priority areas especially now that the various Councils are preparing the year 2009 budget estimates.   

From the feedback received so far, Dr Saraki expressed delight that most of the Local Governments are now alive to their statutory responsibilities with appreciable impacts on the lives of the people, urging those performing well not to rest on their oars.   

He further enjoined the Councils to give priority attention to renovation of classrooms, repair of damaged boreholes and rural electrification in their 2009 budget estimate proposals.   

Speaking on the responsibility and financial rascality of some of the Chairmen, Dr Saraki advised those involved to desist, pointing out that government would henceforth not condone such immoral behaviour.   

Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the chairman of ALGON in the State, Alhaji Mohammed Toyin Sanusi praised Dr Saraki for putting them on their toes in order to improve governance at the grassroots level.   

Alhaji Sanusi, who is also the Chairman of Ilorin West, disclosed that the meeting essentially dwelt on key areas of Water, Electricity and Education with a call on the Councils lagging behind to go back to the drawing board and make necessary corrections for their laxities. 

Billy Adedamola Billy Adedamola

S.A Media to the Kwara State GovernorS.A Media to the Kwara State Governor

November 24, 2008