By our reporter
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Wike, has commissioned 54 tractors for Local government council.
Speaking during the commissioning , he charged the 18 local government councils chairmen in the state to do their bits so as to lessen the workload of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
He was speaking on the occasion of the official handover of 54 construction equipment to the 18 local government councils in the state.
He asserted that he is not surprised by the level of achievements of the Governor within the short time he assumed office.
“Mr. Governor, I am not surprised because immediately you were elected, some people would have gone holiday but you said no the work starts immediately. I have been watching you from afar. There’s no time I put on my television you will not see Governor Okpebholo doing one thing or the other.
“He is not a Governor that lives in Abuja. If he has anything to do in Abuja immediately he comes the next thing he has gone back to Edo because it’s not in Abuja that the work will be done. It’s in Edo here. And he has been doing well,” Woke posited.
In his address, Governor Okpebholo said that “today marks a significant step in our commitment to grassroots development in Edo State in line with our SHINE AGENDA.
“The handover of fifty-four (54) construction equipment to our eighteen (18) local government councils is deliberate and strategic: we believe that development must not be concentrated at the centre; it must reach every village, every community, and every ward. Our local governments must have the capacity to deliver practical governance for the Edo people.”
According to him, “these machines are tools of transformation. They are meant to open rural roads, improve drainage, support sanitation, and accelerate local infrastructure delivery. They are not for show. They are not for storage. They are for work.”
He charged the councils chairmen “this is a test of leadership and responsibility. These equipment belong to the people of Edo State. Use them transparently, maintain them properly, and deploy them efficiently for public good – not personal use.”
Going further, he affirmed: “When local governments work, Edo State works. And when Edo works, our people prosper. The Edo people must see the impacts in roads rehabilitation, improved drainages, and faster project execution.
“This administration will continue to empower every tier of government to deliver practical governance to the Edo people.”
Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, poured encomium on the Governor for the initiative.
He said the move will save the state from excessive expenditure as gone will be the days when the councils will be going in search of the equipment at very high costs.
Agbebaku promised the Governor that the legislative arm of the state government will always give prompt approval to the executive arms’ request for money to execute projects.