Council chairmen ignore legislative directive to relocate to security villages

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

Chairmen of Local Government Councils in Akwa Ibom State have ignored the resolution passed by the sixth House of Assembly for them to relocate to the security villages in their domains so as to be closer to the people.

It will bw recalled that the Akwa House of Assembly, under the Speakership of Mr Onofiok Luke, had passed a resolution mandating the council chairmen to relocate to the security villages.

However, several years after, investigation revealed that the chairmen are yet to comply with the directives as some of the estates have been allowed to rot away while others have become hiding place for criminal.

The chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Mr Mark Esset, on Tuesday told newsmen in Uyo that plans were underway by his committee to embark on a quarterly visit to councils to ascertain the level of compliance.

Esset said that the sixth Assembly had passed a resolution, mandating local government councils  and other key officers to relocate to the security villages to be closer to the people.

“Unfortunately, the Council Chairmen have refused to abide by the resolution. But my committee has planned to embark on a quarterly visit to councils to ascertain performance and state of security villages across the State and to check defaulters.”

He said that the security villages built by the Akwa Ibom government as residential quarters for top security personnel and senior officials of the 31 Local Government Councils in the state, was to compliment the “Housing for All” policy of State Government.

He said the estates made up of several detached bungalows with sporting and recreational facilities were meant to accommodate the council chairmen, secretaries, heads of personnel and heads of the different security agencies in each of the council headquarters.

On his part, the chairman, Ini LGA, Mr Israel Idaisin said  he has activated the security  village to functional use as key leadership hierarchy of the council and other security chiefs in the area were residing within the security village.

For the 100 unit housing Estate in the area, Idaisin disclosed that the estate in his domain has been leased to a  private school operator, as polytechnic, in order to send  off criminal elements, who had taken over  the facility for unwholesome activities.

It was however gathered that over 98% of council chairmen operate from Uyo, the state capital while others operate from their personal houses built outside the local government headquarters  thereby promoting absenteeism in office.