Akwa Ibom Chairmen, councilors are nonchalant

Akwa Ibom chairmen, councillors are nonchalant
9:09pm
By Chioma Onuegbu
THE broad impression in Akwa Ibom state is that
the third tier of government has local failed to live
up to expectation because of the indifferent
attitude of many of the chairmen.
Besides incompetence, council helmsmen also
take their inability to pay salaries and other
entitlements to workers as convenient reasons to
stay away from office.
Visit to Oruk Anam
When Niger Delta Voice visited Oruk Anam council
secretariat, penultimate Wednesday and last
Friday, the chairman Mr. Tony Akpan, was not on
seat, and none of the staff spoken to, was certain
of when he would be in office.
In fact, the impression from their reactions was
that they were not happy with his style of
leadership and happenings in the secretariat, as
some of them who spoke on grounds of
anonymity, lamented many months of non-
payment of salaries and allowances.
Akpabio’s alleged ‘sins’
Human rights activist, Mr. Saviour Akpan, blamed
the poor performance of council chairmen in the
state on ineptitude.
He said in talking about performance at the local
government level, one should first and foremost
look at the functions of local government council
as enshrined in the Constitution and bye-laws, if
any, enacted by the councilors.
His words: “Let all the local governments in
Akwa- Ibom state present one, one copy of the
bye-laws they have produced since they were
sworn into office.
“Okay, Oruk Anam produced one when they made
a bye-law that they should accept the cost of the
chairman, who died before swearing -in for burial.
That is all. Let them tell me any other law that
they have made.
”Is it not when the councilors sit that they make
laws for the good governance of the local
government? How many of the councilors even
know the name of their villages?
“Look at the security that Akpabio has built all-
round the local government, how many of them
are living in that place to cut expenditure on
accommodation and have money to do other
projects? It is an insult.
“The bottom line is that if there is anything that
Akpabio has done badly in Akwa Ibom state, it is
that he asked all the 31 local government
chairmen to be chairmen.
“He should apologize to the people for bringing
them on board, he should have allowed us to
choose whoever we want. Gone are the days that
you will use the name of local government
chairman as current affairs in school.
“This time around, nobody wants to know. If you
go to the village children will be telling you that
instead of them to be local government chairmen,
it is better they go and be cutting palm fruits,” he
asserted.
Accountability forum
Akpan said he would want Akpabio before leaving
office to organize an accountability forum (not
town hall) where members of the public would be
free without being tele-guided to ask each Council
Chairman questions based on their performance,
stressing that the reason Oruk Anam was
suffering because they know what they should do,
but kept quiet, instead of coming out to tell the
Chairman and his team that they are not doing
well.
Indigenes commend Ibesikpo Asutan chair
However, some indigenes of Ibesikpo Asutan local
government area commended the efforts the
current council leadership, especially in the area
of women, youth empowerment and facelift toe
the council secretariat.
A youth leader, Ernest Akpan said, “The chairman
has done marvellously well. His administration
has done so much in the area of human
development, youth and women empowerment.
“The people, especially women and youths are
happy with his administration. In fact, he is
among the chairmen that have utilized the SURE-
P fund well. So, I think he has tried with what is
available.”
A council staff, Mr. Patrick Akpan, said besides
empowerment of the rural poor, the chairman has
been able to pay salaries, adding, “That is why
they do not have issues with him like in other
councils across the state.”
Council chair defends self
Contacted, the chair, Mr. James Ekpe, said
despite the complex and challenging nature of
local government administration, his leadership
has tried its best to ensure issues that bring
about crisis between council administration and
the grassroots were tackled.
His words: “I have paid salaries up to date except
for negligible aspect of allowances which I am
preparing to clear very soon.
“Outside the payment of workers’ salaries,
allowances and entitlements, I have done a lot in
the area of human empowerment.
“Since I came on board in July 2012; I have
created temporary jobs for about 700 people that
I pay allowance, not salary.
“I also embarked on people oriented projects. We
have built 17- room office Complex, state-of-the-
art canteen, and perimeter fencing of our council.”
Problem not with joint account
Ekpe disagreed that the Joints Account
contributes to non-performance of chairmen in
the state, saying it depends on how prudent the
chairman is and ability to manage the available
resources at his disposal.
He said that some individuals (chairmen)
sometimes create problems for themselves
because by embarking on projects they may not
be able to complete usually brings problem in
local government administration.
It’s not true we don’t go to work—Ekpe
He however denied that council chairmen do not
go to office every working day, saying, “that can
only happen in a hostile environment, but Akwa
Ibom is peaceful.
“At least you have gone to some council and you
met with the chairmen on ground. Except on
Fridays that I may be engaged in occasions like
burial, that is when I may not be in office,
otherwise, I go to my office on daily basis.”

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