Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, on Monday, inaugurated 23 newly elected local government chairmen, urging them to maintain the highest standards of governance and prioritize service to the people. The chairmen, all members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were declared winners of the local government elections held on Saturday.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Governor Alia charged the new chairmen with a mission of significant responsibility, calling on them to lead with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to accountability. He said, “To you the newly elected chairmen, as you step into these roles, I charge you on a mission of utmost importance. Your duties will require you to work diligently, to provide strategic leadership, and to uphold the highest standards of governance without fear or favour.”
The governor emphasized that their leadership roles demand foresight, fairness, and an unwavering dedication to public service. He urged them to build on the developmental strides made by the outgoing caretaker committees and to remain attuned to the needs of their constituents.
Alia encouraged the chairmen to engage in meaningful dialogue and collaboration with all stakeholders to create an inclusive government that fosters progress across their respective local governments. “I urge you to de-emphasize personal gains in leadership and rather focus on bringing democratic deliverables closer to the people. Be reminded that leadership is about service and sacrifice, not personal glory,” he added.
Highlighting the importance of cooperation across different levels of government, Governor Alia called for collaboration between the local governments and the state to ensure the effective implementation of policies and programs that benefit rural communities. He reminded the chairmen of the newly granted local government autonomy, urging them to take advantage of this opportunity for greater impact.
“I must stress that no tier of government operates in isolation. Therefore, in light of the newly granted local government autonomy, I urge you to always collaborate with us at the state level to implement policies and programmes that benefit our rural communities,” Alia said.
The governor also reminded the newly elected officials that the time for politicking was over and encouraged them to focus on governance. He urged them to extend a hand of cooperation to members of opposition parties, welcoming constructive criticism aimed at strengthening democracy and promoting good governance.
Governor Alia concluded by advising the chairmen to hit the ground running and work towards a shared vision of transforming the narrative of Benue State and Nigeria as a whole.
