Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna state has advised elected local government chairmen to distribute the dividends of democracy equitably, without prejudice to political affiliation, gender, religious beliefs or ethnic background.
The governor, who gave the advice at the swearing in ceremony of the chairmen at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, on Friday, enjoined them to be transparent and accountable in the handling of public finances.
He reminded them that “you are taking charge as captains of local governments when the third tier of government has been granted financial autonomy.”
“Your allocation from the Federation Account will be public knowledge, necessitating transparency and accountability. Be available, accessible, responsive and fair in your dealings,” he said.
According to him, local government chairmen are grassroots leaders who are closest to the people, so they should be the people’s voices, advocates, and champions.
“Listen to their concerns, address their fears, and harness their potential. Empower the people to participate in governance and ensure their voices are heard. In the words of Robert W. Flack, “Local government is the foundation of democracy; if it fails, democracy will fail.
“Provide infrastructure, boost agriculture, build and upgrade health centres and primary schools, enhance economic and social services and ensure sustainable natural resource use.
“You are assuming office at a critical time when our people expect a great deal from politicians and leaders. It is your responsibility to restore their faith in politics and local governance.”
The governor urged the people of the state to hold their leaders “accountable, demand transparency, participate in the budgeting process, and insist on quality service delivery.”
