Emmanuel Awari-Jalingo
The Permanent Secretary Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Babangida Hassan has urge the newly elected Chairmen of the sixteen local governments of the state to applied the knowledge acquired during the just concluded 3 Day Retreat organise for them.

He stated this while speaking with newsmen at the venue of the Retreat which took place between 22th-24th, November,2023, at Tim Royal Hotel, Jalingo.
“This is the first of it’s kind in the state and county at large.
“Governor Kefas Agbu is passionate about the development of the Sixteen local governments of the state, thereby giving approval for the Retreat.

“It is basically aimed at repositioning the local government system of the state.
“This is in line with the Governor Kefas Agbu’s vision of moving the state forward by providing the needed dividend of Democracy across the Sixteen local government areas of the state.

He congratulated the newly elected Chairmen on their victory at the polls.
“I admonish you to dedicate your victory to Almighty God and see your emergence as a call to service and dedication to duty.
“This Retreat is timely and packaged to prepare Council Chairmen and other Top local government officials for governance at the grassroots level.
He urge them to take the advantage of the Retreat and see it as a training ground to aquire knowledge for effective performance in discharge of their official duties.

“Council Chairmen should not hesitate to ask questions where necessary for clarifications to keep them abreast of the rudiments of local government Administration – he said.
During the Retreat, one of the resource person, Mr. Adebayo Gabriel Afolayan, spoke on the Topic: Elected Officials and Relationship, said that Conflict between the Chairmen and other elected or administrative staff have brought set back in local government Administration in the county.
He pointed out Interest as one of the problem causing Conflict in most local governments of the Country.
“Don’t be griddy, if you are not griddy, what you have can go round. If there is Love and Compassion, it will be enough for all.
He pointed out that arrogance displayed by elected officials have contributed in promoting conflicts.
“Some of them see it as their time to get rich – he said.
The Retreat jointly organise by Euclase Resources Limited in conjunction with the Taraba State Government, was aimed at equipping the newly elected Chairmen of the Sixteen local governments with knowledge.
Earlier, Governor Dr Agbu Kefas while declaring open the Retreat, reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to good governance from the state to local government level.
Dr Agbu Kefas, said it is a significant occasion to equip the Chairmen with the needed knowledge to succeed in their responsibility.
The Governor observed that the role of the local government Chairmen in driving good governance to the local level is very important to the development of the state.
Governor Agbu Kefas charged them to get ready for the tasks ahead as the progress of the state lies in their commitment at the local levels.
He stressed the need for the local government Chairmen to work in collaboration with the state, pay attention to innovation, and proper planning to ensure sustainable development.
The Governor said the theme of the retreat “towards a more effective and results-driven local governance in Taraba State” is a reminder to the Chairmen and stressed the need not to joke with the platform.
On his part, the Managing Director of Euclase Limited, the firm handling the Programme, Major General Henry Ayamasaowe thanked the Governor for giving them the task of equipping heads of local government areas in the state for results-oriented leadership.
Major General Henry said at the end of the exercise the participants will be oriented on their duties as political leaders, and understand the shared responsibility between the three arms of government among others.
Some of the Local Government Chairmen who spoke to newsmen shortly, bear their minds:
(Hon. Agbu Samaila Dauda, Chairman, Wukari local government)
“The Retreat was very educative and all of us enjoy the retreat. The people of Wukari should expect from me good governance.
“You can see what Governor Kefas Agbu is doing at the state level and we at the grassroots level which we are close to people. We are expected to replicate same , so we are going to assist the Governor to make sure that he succeed and finish well.
“I call on people of Wukari to support Governor Kefas Agbu and myself and to cooperate with us, and pray for us to succeed.
“The problem we are having in Wukari local government is Insecurity, so what is paramount is for us to ensure that there is peace in Wukari local government, therefore, I am going to join hands with the Security agencies to make sure that we have peace, for when there is peace, there will be development, wealth and growth, so it is paramount.
“By the Grace of God, I am coming as a unifier, I will work assiduously with Tribes in Wukari local government, the Tiv, Wapan, amongst others and even two religions. So we are going to work towards sustaining peace in Wukari local government.
(Hon. Ezra Voka, Chairman, Donga local government)
“The Retreat is an induction trying to launch us into the work we will do at our various Local Governments.
“The people of Donga local government should expect better performance. What they have done in the just concluded local government elections, have empower me to do better.
“I intended to focus on the Unity of the people of Donga local government.
“Donga local government is polorized because of politics that involves gladiators, by every right are leaders. Because of their followership they need to pull people together so that we can focus and re-launch Donga local government to the place where we want it to be.
“Of course, people of Donga local government should expect selfless service from me, that is why I am here. It is going to be exceptional selfless service.
“Governor Kefas Agbu is a wonderful person, he is the only Governor that I know that have organise such retreat for elected personels a day after we collected our certificate of return.
“I don’t think that no any governor in the history of this country have ever done this, that tells us the passion he has for the good people of the state, especially at the grassroots level.
“I want to tell my people that there is new done in Donga local government. What I want to them to do is that, they have already given me their confidence by voting for me, what I need now from them is that they should rally around me and see what God will use me to do for them.
(Zakari Ismaila, Chairman, Ardo Kola local government)
“We have benefited from the Retreat, for they thought us many things we don’t know. We would surely do what we are thought, just as Governor Kefas Agbu is doing it, by the Grace of God. We appreciate the Governor for he doing a lot for the state.
“I urge people of Ardo Kola local government to be united for it is not for a particular tribe but the local government belongs to us all. All should be patient with the situation we found ourselves in the local government , we should remain united for the development of the entire local government.
“We should all be patient and pray for peaceful co- existence in our state and local government.
“I intended to focus on Security, Agriculture, and Education.
Meanwhile, the newly elected Chairmen of the Sixteen local governments have been present with Hilux Vehicles for their official duties.