Kadafur to New LG Chairmen: Serve with Integrity, Not Power

Kadafur to New LG Chairmen: Serve with Integrity, Not Power

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Borno State Acting Governor Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur has charged the 27 newly elected local government chairmen to see their victory at the polls not as a reward for power, but as a heavy responsibility to serve the people with transparency, vision and accountability.

Speaking on Thursday during the swearing-in ceremony at the Government House in Maiduguri, Kadafur described the council chairmen as the driving force behind the implementation of the state’s 25-year Development Plan and the engines of its 10-year strategic transformation agenda.

According to him, the ceremony marked more than a political transition, stressing that it symbolised sacred trust between the elected officials and the people they were meant to serve.

“Today, we gather here to witness a profound transition of democratic duty and a sacred trust,” the acting governor said. “You have not just won elections at the polls; you have accepted a covenant with the people of Borno State.”

Kadafur noted that, beyond electoral success, the chairmen volunteered to shoulder the hopes, struggles, and aspirations of citizens at the grassroots, which he described as the bedrock of any thriving society.

He warned them against seeing their positions as symbols of authority, stating clearly that governance at the local level is about service, sacrifice and responsibility.

“Let me be unequivocal: this ceremony is not a celebration of power; it is an induction into a furnace of responsibility,” he said.

The acting governor reminded the chairmen that the people in their local government areas are not their subjects but their principals, urging them to prioritise efficient service delivery and person-centred leadership.

Highlighting the importance of local councils in sustaining peace and development, Kadafur said the quality of governance at the grassroots would determine shared prosperity and renewed hope across the 27 councils.

He emphasised the importance of managing funds allocated to local governments with utmost care, caution, and honesty, as they serve as the lifeline of communities.

“You must be guardians of every naira spent. Focus on essentials that directly improve the lives, security, and dignity of our people,” he charged, warning against embarking on vanity projects that do not address real needs.

On workers’ welfare, Kadafur described the timely payment of salaries and entitlements as non-negotiable, adding that productivity and discipline must be restored across the local government system.

“All council workers must report to their duty posts promptly. Productivity and discipline must return to the system,” he said.

The acting governor further reminded the chairmen of their moral and legal obligations, declaring that accountability goes beyond institutions.

“You are accountable to God Almighty, the law and the people. Your offices must be temples of transparency,” he said, urging them to welcome public scrutiny and actively engage their communities in governance.

He also called on residents across the state to remain vigilant and hold their leaders accountable to the promises made during their campaigns.

“People’s vigilant engagement is the lifeblood of democracy and good governance,” Kadafur added, urging citizens to closely monitor the performance of their elected officials at the grassroots.