Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti has charged caretaker chairmen of local councils in the state to impact positively on the lives of the people.
Fayemi gave the charge in Ado-Ekiti at the swearing-in of the chairmen for the 16 local government areas of the state whose tenure were extended.
The governor said the renewal of the tenure became imperative to meet the dictates of the law as well as to reward the council chiefs for their good performance at the grassroots.
He, however, stressed that there were glaring areas of need calling for strategic improvement in order to fulfill the yearnings of the electorate.
The governor urged the chairmen to see their re-appointment as “a rare opportunity” for them to provide solutions to challenges that had been making life miserable for the people.
Fayemi also restated his commitment to having elected democratic structure at the local government level as soon as the litigation on the issue was disposed off.
“My commitment to adherence to democratic demands and entrenchment of same at all levels of governance is total and non-negotiable.
“ It is a burden for me to live with the reality of leadership by appointment and not by election in the third tier of government in Ekiti State.
“ However, all of us are fully aware of the circumstances that occasioned this development.
“ I would not want to comment much on this since it is a subject of litigation.
“ I hope, nonetheless, that this would be disposed off quickly to let our people partake in the joy of participatory governance at the local governments,’’ he said.
On the demand for N19,320 minimum wage for local government workers and special salary structure for health workers in councils, the governor said no civil servant would be left out.
Fayemi, who stated that the process of bio-metric capturing of council workers was almost over, appealed to all stakeholders to show understanding.
Speaking on behalf of other council chiefs, the Caretaker Chairman of Efon Local Government, Dr Adio Folayan, promised to work harder to ensure that the eight-point agenda of government was implemented at the grassroots. (NAN)