Confirmed, Delta Outgoing Council Chairmen To Handover To HPMs

Indications have emerged that outgoing Local Government Council Chairmen in Delta State will handover to Head of Personal Management, HPMs of their respective Councils, BigPen Online can report.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa had on Wednesday alluded to this during the valedictory Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC held at Government House,  Asaba, where contrary to earlier impression, said that the state government will not set up caretaker committee for the local government councils.

The tenure of the incumbent Council Chairmen would expire this month, thus there would be an interregnum before the next election scheduled to hold by January 6, 2018 in which the HPMs are expected to man the various local government councils since the governor had made it clear that he cannot breach the constitution by setting up caretaker committee.

Recalled that BigPen Online had earlier reported that Governor Okowa would layoff the former DSIEC members, constitute a new board and then handover the local government councils to HPMs pending when the council elections would be held in 2018.

Addressing the outgoing council chairmen on Wednesday, Governor Okowa, however gave reason to why he cannot set up caretaker committee for the Councils saying it was unconstitutional and as a former Senator he can not breach the constitution.

He also explained the JAAC meetings often held with the Councils Chairmen, saying that the state JAAC meetings had been transparent, accountable and open as representatives of the various unions in the councils act as observers to the proceedings.

“I don’t believe in caretaker committee to man the council before the 2018 elections, it is unconstitutional, I have been in the senate to know that it is not in the constitution, the interregnum will be brief and elections will be held.

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“At JAAC, we have tried to be as transparent, accountable and open as possible, I made sure that representatives of Nigeria Union Of Teachers, Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees and State Universal Basic Education Board [SUBEB] are observers at JAAC to make it more transparent and let them see how the money accruing to the councils are allocated, I hope that the next JAAC will continue with this  solid foundation built by you”

Reassuring the chairmen of his continuous support and cooperation, Dr. Okowa commended them for their patience and sacrifices in piloting the affairs of the Councils.

“I feel encouraged and touched because I know that you went through a lot of sacrifices and pains for our people, I appreciate you for your tolerance, patience, cooperation and sacrifices. It is not easy to sacrifice your comfort and endure all the criticism, you have laid the foundation in your various councils and JAAC, I hope the next set of chairmen will build on this foundation.

“The fact that we are being more accountable at the local government councils now is great, our wage bills are reducing with the biometric system and hopefully with time we will have a manageable number of staff and pay salaries as at when due”.