By Bashir Mohammed
Kano
Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has promised that the out-going local government chairmen and councillors in the state would remain relevant in the scheme of affairs.
“We will not abandon you. We will make sure you are carried along in our party and in governance. We are happy working with you and your contribution will not go in vain,” he said.
He made the promise at a dinner organised by the out-going local government chairmen, councillors, secretaries and supervisory councillors in the state, whose tenure ends on May 29, this year.
Ganduje, who described local administration as “tough” in view of the closeness of the local leaders to the grassroots, noted that managing the local government councils at a time of dwindling resources was very challenging.
The governor said the out-going local government officials had contributed their quota to the development of their localities, and urged them to remain committed to the advancement of their communities as they prepared to turn a new leaf in their political careers.
He thanked them for their loyalty to his administration, which, he said, resulted in the giant strides in the socio-economic development of the state in only two years.
Speaker of the House of Assembly, Kabiru Alhassan Rurum, who dwelt on the relationship between the state government and local administrations in the state, advised the state government to pay the severance package of the out-going council officials.
“I want to use this medium to mandate the executive arm of government to pay the dues of the chairmen and the councilors. Even if the state government does not have the money now, I want to advise it should borrow and settle your dues once and for all,” he said.
Chairman of All Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Comrade Mukhari Ishaq, explained that the reception was organised to give “glory to Allah for a successful tenure,” saying despite the fact that the country faced economic recession, the local government councils in the state had a worthwhile three-year tenure.
Ishaq, the out-going chairman of Kano Municipal Council, praised Governor Ganduje for assisting local administrations to pay the salaries of workers and for embarking on the modernisation of narrow streets and pathways in Kano metropolis.
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, and the National President of ALGON, Alhaji Ibrahim Ahmed Karaye, were among personalities who spoke during the occasion.
