I won’t mismanage LG funds – Akeredolu

…Swears-in Commissioners, Advisers, LG bosses

By Adekola Afolabi
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Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu has vowed not to mismanage local government funds.

Akeredolu made the vow yesterday while swearing in the newly appointed Caretaker Committee Chairmen in the 18 Local Government areas of the state as well as Commissioner and Special Advisers.

The Governor declared that he will continue to ensure that funds allocated for the running of the local governments are judiciously utilized.

He warned the new appointees to justify the confidence reposed in them on the strength of their recommendation for the post.

He enjoined them as political office holders to see their appointments as a call to greater services and not a call to licentious and irresponsible conduct.

Akeredolu, who stressed that all political office holders owe the public a duty of care and respect, while the welfare of the people must be the focus of all activities, stated that the greatest honor that can be bestowed on a citizen is the opportunity to serve his country.

He insisted that optimum service delivery should be the goal, otherwise governance becomes banditry. The governor advised them to be ready to give selfless service to the people and avoid the temptation of engaging in frivolities.

Akeredolu who said the new appointments were in recognition of their loyalty and dedication to the service of the state and particularly charged the caretaker chairmen to consolidate on the achievements of the government and their predecessors.

“We have been consistent in the implementation of our programme of redemption. We have not departed from the path of steady, deliberate and purposeful development since inception of this administration in February 2017. We remain committed towards realising the full potentials of our policy document.

“Our main objective is to open the rural areas for development and community extension services. We have opened and upgraded roads through the Rural Access and Mobility Programme (RAMP). We are constructing one km Asphalt overlay roads in each of the 18 local governments. Public schools in all the LGAs in the state are being renovated massively.

“Over 700 of such have received attention from this government. Our people now have more access to potable water and the assurance of inclusion in the activities of the government,” he emphasised.

The governor also said his administration would continue to ensure that funds allocated to the local governments are judiciously utilised for the development of the grassroots, saying that his government had no intention to authorise any local  government administration to do anything that is inconsistent with the law establishing it.

“We will insist that monies meant for development is not diverted for other purposes. Our administration is not averse to transparency and accountability. We do not intend to surrender the mandate liberally entrusted in our care to any extraneous body, ” Akeredolu added.

In their separate responses on behalf of their colleagues and the caretaker chairman of Ifedore Local Government Area, Alex Oladimeji, one of the new Commissioners, Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju, appreciated the governor for counting them worthy of the appointments with a promise to justify the confidence reposed in them.

They promised to put in their best and support the governor in the service to the people of the state.

The new cabinet members include five Commissioners; Mr Fatai Olotu; Mrs Titi Adeyemi; Mr Temitayo Oluwatuyi; Mrs Yetunde Adeyanju and Mr Akintunde Owanikin, and two Special Advisers, Mr Babatunde Kolawole and Oyebo Aladetan.

They were sworn in alongside the 18 Local Government Caretaker chairmen at an epoch-making event held at the International Culture and Event Centre, The Dome, in Akure .