The Rivers State Gover
nor, Chief (Barrister) Nyesom Ezenwo Wike last week inaugurated 19 Local Government Council Caretaker Committee Chairmen.The ceremony took place after the 19 nominees of the chairmen were screened  and confirmed by the Rivers State House of Assembly as stated by law.
This set of the local Government council executives are the fourth caretaker committee council since last year June 2015. Soon after the general elections in March, 2015,the past administration hurriedly conducted local government elections in 22 local government areas, but the 8th State House of Assembly was not happy with the maner in which the election was held, summoned the Rivers State INEC headed by Prof. Agustine Ahiauzu. Soon after the probe, the Assembly recommended the sack of the commission. Consequently the Governor, assented to appointed a new board.
The Local Government system is guaranteed under the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, section 7 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution provides for the functions of a Local Government Council under its Fourth Schedule. This schedule tends to derive mainly from the Basic and Constitutional Transition Provisions (Decree 15 of 1987).
Thus, functions of Local Governments are categorised into The Exclusive list and the Concurrent list.
The exclusive list of functions are those functions that are solely performed by Local Governments, while the concurrent list of functions are those that the Local Government performs in collaboration with State and Federal Governments. The State and/or Federal Government can also perform these functions on behalf of local Governments until Local Governments are in a position to perform such functions.
According to the Fourth Schedule 1 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, the main functions of a Local Government Council are as follows: The consideration and the making of recommendations to a State commission on economic planning or any similar body on the economic development of the state, particularly in so far as the areas of authority of the council and of the State are affected, and proposals made by the said commission or body; Collection of rates, radio and television licences; Establishment and maintenance of cemetries, burial grounds and homes for the destitute or infirm and many other taxes and Licences.
As earlier indicated the executive arm of the Local Government is constituted by the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman elected with him, the Secretary and Supervisors appointed by the Chairman.
On the other hand, incompetent officers are either told to improve on their performance or are shown the way out of the service. Such an impartial procedure in the system makes for growth and viability of the entire system as dedicated workers are duly rewarded and conversely incompetent and dishonest officers earn their due punishments for their misdemeanor.
What is to be emphasised here is the need for officials to strive to be efficient and dedicated by acquiring the requisite education, training and retraining to enable them perform. Such knowledge needs to include the learning of the rules and regulations in the circumstance, officers should have and own copies of Financial Memoranda, the Nigerian Constitution, bye-laws and other extant rules and regulations. A deep mastery of such rules and procedures would facilitate their job delivery and performance. Furthermore, they can become aware of their entitlements, rights and privileges. The employers’ responsibilities are equally known to them. It makes for the good health and success of the service. It is expected that a corps of educated, trained and diligent staff would be in a position to advance the course and progress of development in the Local Governments.
While inaugurating the Caretaker Committee Chairmen, the State Government provided the necessary guidelines and structure in order to ensure effectiveness, efficiency, probity and accountability and some measures of control and monitoring.
Wike warned the Council executives of reckless spending and promised to withhold security votes of executives if they failed to perform and deliver what was expected of them.
The Governor regretted that some local government chairmen were owing workers many months of salaries, charged the new council executives to clear all workers salaries owed by their predecessors.
The Governor directed that the new Chairmen should ensure that this directive is followed to the letter as he called on the local Government Service Commission (LGSC) to ensure the payment of outstanding salaries owed to local government council workers.
The Governor said he will monitor the payment of workers salaries by first withholding the imprest and security votes to the council chiefs, stating that salaries must first be paid.
According to him, this government will monitor pattern of expenditure of the local government areas to ensure that funds are deployed to areas that will promote the interest of the people, adding that the chairmen must get approval before they could access their security votes and imprest.
‘’ All salaries owed local government workers must be settled before any security votes are released to the caretaker chairmen. We must uphold the welfares of workers at all levels’’, he said.
The Governor who had been a local government chairman aware of tricks played by some top officials of the local government also extended the warning to the Local Government Heads Personnel Management (LGHPM) and Treasures against colluding with caretaker committee chairmen to negatively manipulate financial process in the council.
‘’ Sanctions await any Local Government Head of Personnel Management or Treasurer who colludes with the chairman to release unauthorized funds’’.
While directing the local government caretaker committees to always remit taxes deducted after payment of salaries also advised that they should interface with security agencies to promote peace and order.
Meanwhile the chairman of the Port Harcourt City Local Government Council, Christian Chiokwa promised that apart from payment of salaries, he would ensure security by liaising with security agencies to create peaceful atmosphere for business and citizens. He also said he will focus on the sanitation of the state capital