…Promises to rehabilitate roads
Iheukwumere Alaribe, chairman, Aboh Mbaise Local Government Area, Imo State, has inaugurated a total of 80 special assistants and assigned different portfolios to them.
This is as he charged them to be good ambassadors of the local government in their various wards, perform their duties well, having in mind that their constituents will either give them a passing mark if they perform well or speak unfavourably against them first and the local government that has appointed them.
Alaribe, a lawyer by profession, one-time commissioner, gave the charge while performing the official swearing in of the 80 special assistants at the local government council hall.
The appointment of the special assistants, some observers said, was apt and marked a significant milestone in the council’s efforts to enhance governance and service delivery.
While performing the inauguration, Alaribe had expressed his confidence in each of the appointees, stating that their selection was based on their already demonstrated capabilities and dedication, as recognised first by the political party leaders in their own wards.
He vividly told the appointees that the council is committed to building human capacity and to seeing that every individual contributes to the productivity of the council.
“We have decided to establish our presence in all wards by initiating a project in each one. Our councillors have submitted projects that address the needs of their constituents. I assure everyone that there will be something for you to do,” the chairman said.
The chairman urged the appointees to be good ambassadors of their wards and communities, emphasising their role as agents of the local government. Urging them to “ensure that all appropriated funds for any project are utilised effectively and efficiently when we kick-start our constituency projects. Your role is crucial in ensuring the success of our administration’s initiatives”.
Speaking about the bad state of the inter-local government roads, he stated that remedial works would begin on the failed section of the Ahiazu/Aboh/Ezinihitte/Uvuru/Okpala road.
But in the interim, the council will implement measures to maintain the road’s usability, and that “the people of Aboh Mbaise are concerned about the state of our roads, but the F&GPC has approved millions of naira for measures to ensure our roads remain usable,” he stated.
He mentioned that drainage work has commenced at the failed Orie Uvuru section along Aboh Mbaise and Ngor Okpala road in preparation for these measures.
On the issue of salary payment, Alaribe assured the appointees of timely and regular monthly payments.
“Some people have expressed fear about how we are going to pay. On the recommendation of the Council and F&GPC, we have agreed to allocate part of our monthly revenue for the payment of the special assistants’ salaries. You will not be owed, and your salaries will be paid regularly,” he promised.
