Past administrations neglected councils, says Governor

Governor Mohammed Abubakar of Bauchi State on Tuesday said that previous administrations in the country were responsible for the poor state of local government councils.

He said that past administrations in the country had reduced activities at the local governments to nothing.

"Workers only visit the councils at the end of each month to collect salaries and allowances,’’ he said.

Abubakar said that if the councils were optimally utilised, they would propel all core developmental issues such as security, poverty alleviation, mass mobilisation and infrastructure development.

He said that both state and federal governments would have less to do because many problems bedevilling African countries needed solutions from the grassroots.

Abubakar said local governments, if effectively utilised, would wipe out poverty and create wealth.

He said that the country needed radical measures that would proffer sustainable solutions to the myriads of problems and scarce resources facing the country.

Abubakar urged the chairmen to be vanguards of progressive change, and develop agricultural ventures that would erode the current trend where 100 per cent of the nation’s income comes from the oil sector.

He charged the chairmen to give stakeholders in their areas a sense of belonging and ensure equity toward the development of the state.

The governor directed them to improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of their councils and to use same in paying workers' salaries.

He called on them to reconstitute security committees and revitalise them in order to improve the peaceful coexistence and security prevailing in the state.

Alhaji Adamu Galambi, one of the chairmen, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said the councils would champion good governance at the grassroots.

Galambi said that the crusade would assist the governor to deliver his electioneering promises to the people at the grassroots.