Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has directed all local government chairmen and councillors to reside within their respective councils and wards, warning that his administration will not tolerate what he termed “diaspora local government officials”.
The governor issued the directive while declaring open a three-day retreat on public sector governance organised by The Progressive Institute (TPI) for principal officers of the 27 local government councils in the state.
Governor Uzodimma emphasised the importance of grassroots presence and accountability, urging the officials to maintain close contact with their constituents.
“As a local government official, you’re expected to live within your communities. You must be able to relate well with your community leaders, traditional rulers, youth and ordinary citizens in your community to determine what their needs are and act on them accordingly,” he stated.
He also tasked security agencies to monitor compliance with the order, reinforcing that all chairmen must reside in their local government areas and councillors within their wards.
The governor further cautioned the officials against indiscipline, corruption, and non-compliance with laws, urging them to serve as good ambassadors of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The retreat, themed “Enhancing Local Government Governance for Sustainable Development”, was designed to build the capacity of local government leaders in key areas such as public financial management, procurement, policy communication, anti-corruption legislation, and revenue generation.
In his address, the Director-General of The Progressive Institute, Dr. Lanre Adebayo, thanked Governor Uzodimma for supporting the initiative, describing the governor as a “visionary leader” committed to the development of Imo State.
He noted that the programme attracted 575 participants, including chairmen, vice-chairmen, councillors, secretaries, and directors from across the state’s local governments.
The training featured sessions on eight critical areas of governance, including public procurement, financial management, policy communication, ethics, and revenue generation strategies.
Participants and traditional rulers in attendance praised the programme as one of the most impactful capacity-building initiatives in the country.
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