Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo Wednesday swore-in Sole Administrators for the 27 Local Government Areas of the state.
Uzodinma also swore-in two Commissioners and four members of the State House of Assembly Service Commission.
The two commissioners were Prof. Eugene Opara and Mr Jerry Egemba.
The new members of the House of Assembly Service Commission were Dr Lambert Orisakwe and Messrs Emmanuel Orie, Israel Nnataraonye and Mike Nduleche.
In a speech at the event in Owerri, the governor admonished them to use their offices to serve the people and drive the affairs of government.
He attributed the high poverty level in the rural areas to the non-functionality of local government administration.
He charged them to supervise and midwife the local council elections expected to hold in the next two months.
He specifically urged them to get the people involved, ensure that youths make up membership of councillors, and get the local government councils active again.
“Despite the brief tenure of about two months, you must utilise the period effectively to serve the people well, revive the various departments, which appear non-functional and get them working again,” Uzodinma said.
He expressed disappointment that the premises of most council headquarters were unkempt and overgrown with weeds.
He promised that the state and local governments would partner to ensure the security and protection of the people.
He said, “I have directed all the security agencies each time there is any incident around the domain of the suspected sponsors of banditry to immediately arrest the suspects whether there is direct evidence or not,” he said.
The governor also urged the new House of Assembly Service Commissioners to work in harmony with the
executive and legislative arms of the government.
He further advised them to shun anti-government activities or the use of their offices to engage in anti-party activities.
The governor further warned that his administration would not tolerate tribal, ethnic or religious sentiments in politics.
Responding on behalf of the other appointees, the Chairman of the House of Assembly Service Commission, Mr Lambert Orisakwe, thanked the governor for the confidence reposed in them.
Orisakwe assured him of their readiness to work and achieve the mandate given to them. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
