Gov Douye Diri of Bayelsa has made a policy summersault on the pledge to conduct local government elections after the 2023 general elections by appointing caretaker chairmen to run the councils.
Diri had on March 11 told reporters at his country home, Sampou community in Bayelsa that his administration would conduct local government elections to ensure democratic governance at the grassroots.
The governor had said that arrangements were underway towards conduct of the council polls and subsequently appointed a Chairman for Bayelsa Independent Electoral Commision to. conduct the elections.
The tenure of elected local government administration in. Bayelsa lapseed since August 2022.
However, Diri on Wednesday performed the swearing-in ceremony for eight local government caretaker chairmmeen and 32 Rural Development Authority (RDA) chairmen at the Executive Council Chambers of Government House, Yenagoa.
The development dims the hope of having elected administration at the grassroots before the governorship elections in Bayelsa slated for Nov. 11.
The governor charged the new caretaker chairmen of the councils and their RDA counterparts to reside in their local government headquarters.
He explained that the government will frown at any council chairman that flouted the directive on residency.
He also directed the new appointees to appoint only five Supervisory Councilors and that they are only entitled to three personal aides.
Diri equally reminded them that the embargo on employment was still in force and that loans from banks and private sources were prohibited.
He said: “All caretaker committee chairmen and Rural Development Authority chairpersons are to reside in their local government headquarters and daily work there. Any travel outside the local government must be with the permission from my office.
“For the eight local government chairmen, you are to appoint five supervisory counselors. You are entitled to three special assistants only. And they are personal assistant, chief security officer and protocol officer.
“There is still embargo on employment at all levels of staff be it temporary or casual employment. There is also a complete ban on all forms of borrowing, including loans from the bank and private sources.
“For emphasis, the issue of residency is very serious. We have had council chairmen that resided in Yenagoa. But we will no longer tolerate any chairman of council that makes Yenagoa his home rather than residing in the headquarters of the council or development authority.
“Bayelsa State currently has eight local government councils as enshrined and recognized by the 1999 constitution as amended. I therefore like to call on all members of the National Assembly from the state to make effort to ensure our 24 RDAs are recognized as local government councils.
“Local government councils should actually be the creation of the people of a particular state, depending on their resources. I do believe and know that if we control our resources in Bayelsa, we can create the number of local governments that will benefit our people.”
The new caretaker committee chairmen are Alabo Hanson Karima , Brass LGA, Chief. Belemu Nemine ,Ekeremor LGA, Inemo Oruebimiekumo ,Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA and Chief Samuel Kalaguo ,Nembe LGA.
Others are Chief Ibu Williams Mizodome ,Ogbia LGA, Richman Ebipade ,Sagbama LGA, Lucky Okodeh ,Souther Ijaw LGA, and Tobi Andy ,Yenagoa LGA.