Wike swears in 23 LG chairmen

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has sworn in the 23 local government chairmen elected last Saturday, in a poll conducted by the state Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC).
Performing the swearing in at the Executive Council Chambers, yesterday, Wike urged the council chairmen to prioritise payment of salaries, promotion of security and environmental sanitation.
He said: “Now that you have emerged through a credible process, you must prioritise payment of salaries. This is key as no excuses will be tolerated.
“Council money is for salaries, development of the areas and security. You should endeavour to leave legacies of development across the state. Make a difference through the development of your local government areas.”
He further advised the newly sworn in council chairmen to work closely with security agencies in their local government areas.
“You must create avenues of cooperation with all the security agencies. That will help you create the right environment for development to take place in your areas,” he said.
The governor charged the council chairmen of Akuku-Toru, Asari-Toru and Degema, to develop the right platforms to ensure their communities are safe.
He challenged the council chairmen of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre, Oyigbo and Eleme local government areas, to take serious steps to ensure they clean specific areas of their councils.
Wike urged the council chairmen to work amicably with their councillors to avoid unnecessary conflicts that would cripple their councils.
On the conduct of the just-concluded local governments’ election, Wike commended the security agencies for providing security for the peaceful and credible conduct of the polls.
He also commended RSIEC for conducting free, fair and credible polls.
The swearing in ceremony was attended by leaders of the state, commissioners and party chieftains.
Meanwhile, Governor Wike said his administration will continue to give priority to the welfare of civil servants.
Also, former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, described the excellent performances of Wike and other Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors as an indication that only PDP can redeem Nigeria.
They spoke yesterday, during the commissioning of 24 three-bedroom flats for civil servants in Port Harcourt.
Wike said: “This is a direct project meant for the workers of Rivers State, who are the engine room of this administration. As our civil servants who inhabit this wonderful estate, they must take steps to keep it clean. We will appoint a facility manager, but, the payment will be jointly borne by the state government and the occupants.”
He said the state government will flag off the construction of Labour House on June 29.
“We are interested in workers’ welfare. Our commitment is to ensure we create the right environment for workers to perform their roles,” he said.
Commissioning the 24 three-bedroom flats for civil servants, Jang observed that projects are only being commissioned in PDP states.
He lauded Wike for transforming the landscape of Rivers State with new projects, noting that Port Harcourt is regaining its Garden City status.
“What our governors are doing, particularly what Wike is doing, you cannot but bring PDP back to transform the country,” Jang said.
-Sun