By Our Correspondent
As a demonstration of his avowed commitment to taking the government closer to the people at the grassroots, the Chairman of Etinan Local Government Council, Hon Uko Umoh has set up and inaugurated a special committee to take stock of all abandoned property and projects in all the Wards in the Local Government Area.
Inaugurating the 6-man Abandoned Projects/Property Inspection Committee at his Secretariat office on Friday, January 12, 2024, the Council Chairman charged them to take their assignment seriously, noting that their report would determine the next step to be taken by his administration.
The Chairman noted that rather than trying to make name by embarking on gigantic but unrealistic projects that would not impact the lives of the people positively, he would love to be remembered for his efforts at resuscitating abandoned and uncompleted projects across the entire local government area that met the needs of the people.
“You have been carefully selected based on your individual capacities and character for this important task. Your job is very critical to the primary focus of my administration which is the people at the grassroots. The intention of my administration is not to try to make name. No! Rather than embarking on gigantic but unrealistic projects, I want to focus on people-oriented projects.
When you study critically the contents of the A.R.I.S.E Agenda document of His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno for Akwa Ibom State, you would realize that the primary focus is the people. Any government that does not consider the people, especially those at the grassroots, in its plan is not a very serious government. So, what we are here to do is to complement the efforts of His Excellency here in Etinan”, Hon. Uko enthused.
Speaking on the Committee’s Terms of Reference, the Etinan Council helmsman added “The key objective of your Committee is to visit all the abandoned and uncompleted projects and properties of the government in all the twelve (12) Wards in Etinan Local Government Area with a view to submitting your report to the Council. You are not to reconstruct or rehabilitate. You are to make recommendations to the Council. You have three (3) weeks to submit your report.
Your report must contain every detail of such projects and properties, their locations, the pictorial presentation of their current status and all other details regarding all of them. We wouldn’t welcome any report that is written based on information gathered via telephone calls. That’s why, to demonstrate my seriousness, I have approved funding that would enable you carry out your functions optimally. Do all you can to justify the trust I have for all of you”
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Kapnim Akpabio, on behalf of other members, thanked the Council Chairman for the confidence reposed in them. He pledged to work assiduously with a view to delivering on the core mandate of the Committee.
The Committee Chairman also solicited the support of the Council and other key and critical stakeholders of the host communities of the affected properties and projects, noting that with their supports, they would be able to achieve their targeted goal.
Also inaugurated into the Committee was Unwana C.O. Akpan as Secretary while Ime Okpon, Akan Udonsa, Ottobong Nsekpong and Ubong Ekpa were inaugurated as members.
Present during the brief ceremony were the Vice Chairman of the Council, Hon. Imaobong Michael; Council Secretary, Hon. Lawrencia Etuk; Head of Service, Mrs. Mercy Ntekim.
Others were Chief of Staff to the Chairman, Pastor Ubong Inyang, SA on Youth, Hon. Item Etuk, amongst others.