Tai LGA partners with STAND
By Ada Bufumoh
The Chairman of Tai Local Government Council, Chief Barry Mpigi has assured Strengthening Transparency Accountability in the Niger Delta (STAND), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) of its readiness to partner with them in ensuring that poverty was reduced in the area.
The council Secretary, Mr. Gbenekanu Kuapie, who spoke on behalf of the council chairman, disclosed this last Wednesday, during an interview by STAND on the council chairman's accountability and stewardship in office.
Chief Mpigi, said his administration had reduced the high level of crimes by been security friendly, noting that a new security post had been built.
He noted that his administration had recently embarked on meaningful projects to better the lives of the people, such as provision of good roads, provision of water supply in virtually all the communities, recalling that previously the people of the local government were living in total darkness.
He said all the water pipes that were provided previously by former Governor Peter Odili's administration had all gone bad.
He described his administration as one that runs an open door policy, which enable all Opposition parties to participate in decision making.
Opposition parties have access to our budgeting process, depending on when the need arises”, he noted, and that was why his administration runs a unitary system of government.
He said to ensure transparency and accountability, he decided to bring up a due process in its financial expenditure and to alert the people of the council's expenditure, noting he intends to leave behind after his administration a corrupt free process.
“The council tends to go into commercial oriented projects that would generate revenue and we would set-up a literacy centre that can enable our people know how to read and write”, Chief Mpigi said.
Chief Mpigi described STAND in the local government as genuine and with developmental ideas in ensuring that poverty was reduced and expressed thanks to the NGO for producing capacity building for the youths which the council had also set in place.
He said, his administration was partnering with STAND to achieve their goals by providing enough capacity building to the youths which would go a long way in resolving youth restiveness in the area.
He stated that his administration had also embarked on several road projects which had been completed and to ensure his people benefit from the dividends of democracy, the council decided to pay the NEPA bills to oversee that people did not suffer from the non-payment of bills.
He disclosed that what was in his budget were being implemented and that any project being carried out was on specification by the contractor handling the job, noting that communities were allowed to verify what was in the budget and were also allowed to monitor any on-going projects.
“My administration has no skeleton in its cupboard and I urge other council members to emulate the gesture”, Chief Mpigi noted.
He said so far, his administration had engaged youths in meaningful ventures such as scholarships, some on pay-rolls, provision of job opportunities.
He recalled that previously the council was a place where people could not penetrate due to the level of brutality.
He appreciated President Yar'Adua for granting amnesty to militants, noting that crimes had been reduced and to achieve amnesty completely, he urged that militants should be involved in meaningful jobs.
He commended STAND for engaging over 30 youths in their programme at Kpite in Tai LGA and that STAND has embibed the spirit of transparency in his administration and urged them to continue to strive for greater performance in Rivers State.
STAND appealed to the council chairman, to provide more job opportunities for the youths, noting that there should be development such as schools and a better health care for the people.
