The Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru, has issued a stern charge to newly inaugurated local government chairmen and council officials, warning them against using public office as an avenue for quick wealth.
Nwifuru advised them to make integrity, transparency, and accountability the hallmark of their administrations.
The governor gave the charge on Wednesday in Abakaliki while unveiling a three-day capacity-building workshop organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
The retreat brought together newly inaugurated council chairmen, vice chairmen, Heads of Personnel Management (HPMs), treasurers, Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) officers, and development center coordinators.
Addressing the participants, he said that public office is a sacred trust that must be exercised strictly for the benefit of the people at the grassroots, cautioning them against bowing to illicit pressure.
“You must be mindful of the decisions you take in office because your actions today will determine the legacy you leave behind. Do not allow anybody to mislead you into doing what is wrong. Public office is not an avenue to become wealthy overnight,” Nwifuru declared.
“Whatever you do with public funds must be lawful, transparent, and accountable. Stand firm, remain resilient in the face of criticism, and keep your primary responsibility focused on serving the people.”
The governor further advised the officials to continually self-assess and place the collective interest of their constituencies above personal gains, warning that those who yield to unrighteous pressure would ultimately regret their actions.
He urged them to govern in a manner that preserves their personal integrity and professional reputation long after their tenure ends.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Uchenna Igwe, charged the participants to build and sustain a workspace completely free from corruption, insisting that transparent administrative practices must become second nature to the new leadership across all local councils.
Responding on behalf of the local council leadership, the Chairman of the Ebonyi State chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mrs. Helen Aduga, lauded the workshop as both timely and essential for deepening officials’ operational knowledge.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Coordinators’ Forum, Chidi Ogbonna, described the training exercise as an indispensable educational initiative that would significantly fortify grassroots governance across the state.
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