A SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY SULLIVAN IHEANACHO CHIME GOVERNOR ENUGU STATE AT THE INAUGURATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN ON 4TH JANUARY 2008

I feel happy to be here today for the inauguration of the newly elected Chairmen of our Local Governments. Happy in the sense that those of you who emerged successfully from the election are seasoned and responsible persons who understand the seriousness we presently attach to local government administration in this state.

Our administration has taken a firm stand that the time has come for our people to practically see development and progress in the Local Government, in line with our Four-Point-Agenda. We insist that the Local Governments being the tier of government closest to the masses must make our people have full sense of belonging.

We have repeatedly made it clear that Local Government allocations from the Federation Account will get to the Local Governments. No money meant for the Local Governments will be diverted.
The elected Chairmen on their part must realize that their people have elevated them to positions of trust and service, and to whom much is given much is expected.

They must therefore be ready not just to serve, but to serve transparently, responsively and humbly. They are not to boss those who elected them but live with them, interact with them and identify their problems.

The days are gone when Local Government Chairmen cluster in Enugu metropolis and abandon their people in their various local governments. Under this Administration the people have the right to ask questions. They have a right for their Chairman to tell them what he is doing with their money.

The Caretaker Committee Chairmen served for an interim period of four months. Within those four months I can say without fear of contradiction that most of them performed creditably.
In line with our policy of accountability, the Local Governments Accounts will soon be audited.

We expect the newly elected Chairmen to build on the achievements of the Caretaker Committees. They should complete any uncompleted projects started by the outgone Caretaker Committees. This is because government is "a continuum" and abandoning those projects would amount to waste of public funds.

We will expect to see humble and down to earth Chairmen not carried away by ostentatious living. The people who elected you and whom you are representing will be watching your life style.

We urge the Chairmen to realize that they are entering into a new and reformed Local Government System that frowns at extravagance and insists on due process. They should see the need for team-work so that together they can confront the enormous challenges of their new office.

We are sure that with their interactions with the Ministry of Local Government Matters and the Economic Planning Commission, it would be very obvious to them that proper planning, effective execution of projects, transparency and responsiveness are the rudiments of our reformed Local Government  System. 

This reformed Local Government System will be tasking and full of expectations with checks and balances.

We have established mechanisms that will make it possible for us to periodically assess your performances by tying your achievements to the amount of money allocated to you.
Today should therefore not be seen as a day of celebration but rather a day for sober reflection on how to execute the onerous responsibilities now bestowed on you.

You must therefore see yourselves as Chairmen for all, not for any faction or party but for the entire Local Government. You must eschew bitterness and sectionalism in your governance particularly in the location of projects.
On our part, we will give you all the support and assistance to enable you bring development to our rural communities. In this regard, the State Government will  be holding a workshop for all the newly elected Local Governments officials next week here in Enugu.

Today you carry our confidence in your ability to religiously carry through the Four-Point-Agenda of our government, geared towards improving the lives of our people.

Let me at this juncture formally congratulate you on your victory at the polls and to remind you that it comes with immense responsibilities. It calls for hardwork, dedication, patience and focus.

Thank God and God bless.