Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has said that he believed in separation of powers and financial autonomy for local governments.
Oborevwori stated this a valedictory Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC, meeting with the outgoing local government chairmen in the state at the Exco Chambers, Government House, Asaba.
He noted that local government administrators needed to perform optimally because they were the closest tier of government to the grassroots.
He said: “I believe in the separation of power. As a lawmaker and the presiding officer of the State House of Assembly for six years, I am in support of financial autonomy for the local governments.
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“This is because, since I was sworn-in nine months ago, I never interfered with what you people are doing. I gave you people that freedom and you came out with projects.
“You have been able to manage the funds in your respective local governments and, today, we see harvests of projects in all the local government areas; you people have done very well.
“My wish for you people is that you will continue to succeed in all your future endeavours. I believe that with what you have done in your respective local government areas, the people will continue to remember you because you are the closest to the people at the grassroots.
“So, you have done very well and, as a government, if the local governments, with what they have done, we do our own at the state level and the Federal Government Government does its own, we will see that the hardship we feel today will reduce.
The Governor who said he was impressed with the harvest of projects in all the local government areas, added: “I am happy to work with you and I know that few days from now, you people will be exiting. But first, we thank God for a successful tenure.
“What is more important, are the things that you will be remembered for. It gives me joy to know that since December, I have been receiving messages from Council Chairmen for the commissioning of projects”.
Earlier in their separate valedictory speeches, the State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria, ALGON, Hon. Victor Ebonka; Chairman of Sapele, Hon. Eugene Inoaghan; Chairman of Warri South, Dr Michael Tidi; Chairman of Aniocha South, Hon. Jude Chukwuweike thanked Governor Oborevwori and his predecessor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, for giving them the platform to prove their mettle.
They said that they were able to embark on landmark projects in their respective local government areas because the immediate past governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and his successor, Governor Oborevwori, did not touch their monthly allocations.
Ebonka used the forum to thank the governor for approving the employment of 40 new teachers in Patani Local Government Area in addition to the earlier approval for the engagement of over 3,000 teaching and non-teaching staff for primary schools in the state.
