Mimiko swears in new council caretakers

Governor Olusegun Mimiko of the western Nigerian state of Ondo on Tuesday in Akure conducted the swearing in ceremony for newly appointed Caretaker Chairmen in the 18 local government areas of the state.

The development followed the expiration of the tenure of the immediate past caretaker chairmen on Monday.

Addressing the chairmen, Mimiko urged them to desist from illegal recruitment of workers and embark on revenue generation drive “devoid of public brutalization.’’

Mimiko, who warned that it was no longer business as usual in the local council areas, expressed his administration’s zero tolerance for illegal recruitment of staff.

The governor stressed that local government administration was not meant to pay salaries alone but also to carry out developmental projects in the best interest of the people at the grassroots.

He charged them to revamp the local government system and make it more active and responsible with a view to translating the dream of government into reality.
“You as chairmen of these interim committees must be at the vanguard of re-awakening the local government areas to the manifest function of day-to-day administration of our grassroots.

“At the state level, we are devoting renewed energy to initiatives and efforts that will bring about rapid industrialisation and its attendant employment opportunities,” he said.
Mimiko also urged the people not to make unnecessary demands to enable the chairmen concentrate on socio-economic transformation.

Responding on behalf of his colleagues, the Caretaker Chairman of Ifedore Local Government Council, Mr Idowu Adebusuyi, thanked the governor for the opportunity given them to serve.

He promised that he and his colleagues would embark on “total overhauling” of the local government system in the state.