From TONY JOHN, Port Harcourt
The newly appointed Acting Chairman of Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Goodlife Idoku, has appealed for the cooperation of members of the staff to achieve the mandate of his office.
Idoku spoke when he assumed office as the fifth chairman of the commission, yesterday.
The state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, appointed him acting chairman of the commission last week Monday.
Idoku’s appointment came after years the office had been vacant, and without a chairman.
Addressing the officers of the vommission, the chairman promised to work with them with open mind and urged them to support the policies and programmes of the State government, particularly the Commission to improve the poor state of the communities and villages.
He said: “What local government councils were set out do are not hidden. When we were younger, we saw what local government councils were doing in terms of human and capital project development. But, the story is different today, notwithstanding huge allocations they receive every month.
“Governor Fubara is concerned about Rivers people, and he has sent me here to lead us to achieve the great agenda he has for the State and her people.
“I will ask for your cooperation, I, Pastor Goodlife Idoku Ben, have not come here to witch-hunt anybody, but the right thing must be done for the good of all of us. We are all members of the state and I am here to join hands with you to move the state forward.
‘Everyone of us has to do their own part so that the lofty plans of Governor Siminalayi Fubara will be evidently achieved and seen all over the state, including in the local council areas.”
Earlier, the Chairman had expressed the concern of Governor Fubara on the state of the grassroots which led to his appointment at this critical time of his government, for improved local government administration.
“I first give thanks to the Almighty God for giving us life and making this day to be. I also thank the Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for remembering us.
“With the events in the state, nobody would have blamed him if he did not remember this commission at this time to appoint a Head over it. For the fact that he remembered to do this at this time means that he has something good for you.
“It is my prayer that the Lord will help him, and I pray that we will not disappoint him.”
Speaking further, Idoku noted that the mandates of local government adminsitration is well provided in the constitution as grassroots government.
He regretted that even with the huge allocation they receive every month, there is nothing to show for it.
He thanked the people for accepting him into the commission and promised to work with them with open mind.