Politics
Andoni Chairman Tasks Councillors On Capacity Dev
A two-day capacity development programme organised for members of Andoni Legislative Assembly ended over the weekend with the council chairman urging the trainees to imbibe knowledge that would enable them discharge their legislative duties effectively.
The chairman of Andoni Local Government Council, Bar Erastus Awortu gave the advice while declaring the programme opened in Port Harcourt last Friday.
The workshop with the theme ”Strengthening the Legislative Institutional Framework for Effective Service Delivery in Andoni Local Government Area” was aimed at enhancing the individual and collective performance of the councilors as well as motivating them to be resourceful, creative and innovative while discharging their duties as elected representatives of the people.
According to the council chairman, “the training is apt, very crucial and timely, given the sorry state of affairs of our Local Government Area which we inherited and the urgent need to right the many wrongs of Andoni to herald a turnaround and a watershed moment in our dear Local Government Area.
“Your role as councillors of the Legislative Arm is critical because you serve as Vanguards of the people and their common interest. The essence of this training is to enable you understand your role as councillors, to impart legislative knowledge and skills in you, build your legislative capacity and competencies, improve your efficiency and enhance your performance individually and collectively as a Legislative Assembly.
“The objective of the training is also to motivate you to be creative and innovative as elected representatives of the people from the 11 Wards of Andoni Local Government so that you can make valuable contribution for the good governance of the people”.
The council boss expressed optimism that the training would educate the lawmakers on the rudiment and basics of legislation at the grassroots and and as well enlighten the councillors on the strategies of strengthening the relationship between the Council Executive and the Legislative Assembly with a view to reducing friction between the two arms of government.
He also expressed hope that the Training will deepening the legislative knowledge in line with legislative best practices and in consistent with the Local Government Laws of Rivers State and the 1999 Constitution as amended which the grundnorm”.
Awortu said the Councillors would through the workshop gained the requisite legislative knowledge to make good bye-laws and contribute positively to the implementation of the policies and programmes of his government for the general good of the people of Andoni.
He urged the Councillors to galvanize and synchronize their energies towards the pursuit of the good of the people while shunning partisanship and divisive tendencies capable of truncating collective efforts at rebuilding Andoni Local Government and changing its ugly narrative.
Awortu further stressed the need for the lawmakers and the Staff of the Council to equip themselves with the necessary modern day skills of Local Government Administration devoid of lack of commitment to work, nonchalant attitude, lukewarmness and unnecessary bureaucracy and red-tapism.
The Council Boss also charged them to take the advantage of the training to inculcate Discipline, Integrity, Honesty, Diligence and Responsiveness, which are the core values of leadership in them.
On his part, the Facilitator, Mr. Solomon Seiyefa said the training is an orientation workshop targeted at strengthening democratic traditions at the Local Government level and equip the Councillors and Support Staff core values on how to enhance their proficiency on the job.
He said it is expected that at the end of the training the Councillors would know the purpose of their election and discharge their role dutifully and diligently.
“The overview of the training is that we intend to achieve a good working relationship between the Executive, the Councillors and Support Staff of the Council. There is a link between them, their functions are interwoven, none can operate in isolation.
“The Local Government cannot be effectively administered without a synergy and harmoniously working relationship between Executive, Staff of the Council and the Legislative Arm.
“Without a good Legislature the Executive cannot function, the Council Chairman needs the Councllors to enact functional bye-laws, to enact acceptable bye-laws, the Councillors also need the Executive to function efficiently. Also, without the Support Staff the Legislative Arm cannot make bye-laws and without the Legislative Arm the Support Staff cannot function effectively.
“So this training is also aimed at bridging the gap of misunderstanding between the Councillors and the Support Staff of the Andoni Local Government” he said.
The Leader of the Andoni Legislative Assembly Sheila Jacob Nte who spoke to newsmen at the training commended the Council Chairman for the initiative. She said they are now well enlightened on their role as Councillors and adequately equipped with the basic legislative skills of lawmaking at the third tier of Government.
She promised that the knowledge acquired in the training would be put to good use in their day-to-day legislative business.
Also, the Councillor representing Ward 5 Andoni Gogo Ikuru who described the training as the first of its kind said they are better equipped to deliver on their mandate as elected representatives of the people. He thanked the Council Chairman for developing their legislative capacity on the job.
The package of the 2-day Training for the Councillors and Support Staff of Andoni Local Government Council includes:
– An overview of the Local Government System in Nigeria: Creation, Structure and Function.
– The Role and functions of the Local Government Legislative Assembly under the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria, as amended, and the Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018, as amended.
– The Conduct of Business in a Legislative Chamber: Ethics, Rules and Procedures.
– The Role of Support Staff in Legislative Process.
– The Role of Bureaucracy and Legislative Aides in the Legislature.
– Budgeting and Budgetary Process in Local Government Council.
– The Role of the Legislative Assembly in advancing accountability and good governance in Local Government Administration.
By: Enoch Epelle
The former two-term governor went down memory lane to recall how they founded the APC but were used and dumped.
In his words, “…those calling on us to join APC, we have agreed to join the APC but on clear agreement that protects and respects the interest of my party, NNPP and my political movement, Kwankwasiyya. No state where you go that you don’t have NNPP and Kwankwasiyya. We have gubernatorial candidates, senatorial candidates and others.
“We are ready to join APC under strong conditions and promises. We will not allow anyone to use us and later dump us.
“We were among the founding fathers of the APC and endured significant persecution from various security agencies while challenging the previous administration.
“Yet when the party assumed power, we received no recognition or appreciation for our sacrifices, simply because we didn’t originate from their original faction.
“We are not in a hurry to leave the NNPP; we are enjoying and have peace of mind. But if some want a political alliance that would not disappoint us like in the past, we are open to an alliance. Even if it is the PDP that realised their mistakes, let’s enter an agreement that will be made public,” Sen. Kwankwaso stated.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed long-standing claims that he once sought to extend his tenure in office, insisting he never pursued a third term.
Speaking at the Democracy Dialogue organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in Accra, Ghana, Chief Obasanjo said there is no Nigerian, living or dead, who can truthfully claim he solicited support for a third term agenda.
“I’m not a fool. If I wanted a third term, I know how to go about it. And there is no Nigerian, dead or alive, that would say I called him and told him I wanted a third term,” the former president declared.
Chief Obasanjo argued that he had proven his ability to secure difficult national goals, citing Nigeria’s debt relief during his administration as a much greater challenge than any third term ambition.
“I keep telling them that if I could get debt relief, which was more difficult than getting a third term, then if I wanted a third term, I would have got it too,” he said.
He further cautioned against leaders who overstay in power, stressing that the belief in one’s indispensability is a “sin against God.”
On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan said any leader who failed to perform would be voted out of office if proper elections were conducted.
Describing electoral manipulation as one of the biggest threats to democracy in Africa, he said unless stakeholders come together to rethink and reform democracy, it may collapse in Africa.
He added that leaders must commit to the kind of democracy that guarantees a great future for the children where their voices matter.
He said: “Democracy in Africa continent is going through a period of strain and risk collapse unless stakeholders came together to rethink and reform it. Electoral manipulation remains one of the biggest threats in Africa.
“We in Africa must begin to look at our democracy and rethink it in a way that works well for us and our people. One of the problems is our electoral system. People manipulate the process to remain in power by all means.
“If we had proper elections, a leader who fails to perform would be voted out. But in our case, people use the system to perpetuate themselves even when the people don’t want them.
“Our people want to enjoy their freedoms. They want their votes to count during elections. They want equitable representation and inclusivity. They want good education. Our people want security. They want access to good healthcare. They want jobs. They want dignity. When leaders fail to meet these basic needs, the people become disillusioned.”
The dialogue was also attended by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Sokoto diocese of Catholic Church among others who all stressed that democracy in Africa must go beyond elections to include accountability, service, and discipline.
The Rivers State House of Assembly yesterday resumed plenary session after a six-month state of emergency imposed on the state by President Bola Tinubu elapsed on Wednesday midnight.
President Bola Tinubu had lifted the emergency rule on September 17, with the Governor of the state, Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and members of the state assembly asked to resume duties on September 18.
The plenary was presided over by the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, at the conference hall located within the legislative quarters in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
The conference hall has served as the lawmakers’ temporary chamber since their official chamber at the assembly complex on Moscow Road was torched and later pulled down by the state government.
The outgone sole administrator of the state, Ibok-Ete Ibas, could not complete the reconstruction of the assembly complex as promised.
Recall that on March 18, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers following the prolonged political standoff between Fubara and members of the House of Assembly loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
He subsequently suspended the governor, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and lawmakers for six months and installed a sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), to manage the state’s affairs.
The decision sparked widespread controversy, with critics accusing the president of breaching the Constitution.
However, others hailed the move as a necessary and pragmatic step.
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