Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has charged the newly sworn-in chairmen of the state’s 20 local government areas to manage council funds with transparency and accountability. He issued the warning on Tuesday while administering their oath of office at the Government House in Bauchi.

Mohammed cautioned the chairmen against misappropriating or diverting local government funds. He noted that financial autonomy had given councils greater responsibility and left them with no excuse for poor performance.

The governor urged the new officials to see their positions as a chance to serve the people rather than an opportunity for personal enrichment. He said the public now expects more from council leaders because of their closeness to the grassroots.

He called on the chairmen to prioritise security, education, healthcare, agriculture and infrastructure in their areas. He also advised them to work closely with traditional rulers, security agencies, women, youths and other stakeholders to maintain peace.

Mohammed said his administration had already invested in roads, health facilities, schools and agriculture, and expected the councils to complement those efforts. He congratulated the chairmen on their victory and said their performance would be closely monitored by both the government and the people.

Photo credit; Punch Newspaper