Fintiri swears in 21 Adamawa council chairmen, warns against absenteeism, corruption

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has sworn in the 21 newly elected Local Government Council chairmen, charging them to uphold transparency, accountability and grassroots development while warning that his administration would not tolerate absentee leadership or corruption in the councils.

Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony in Yola, Fintiri also congratulated the 226 elected councillors and the people of Adamawa for their continued confidence in the democratic process.

He commended the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) for conducting what he described as a credible election across the state’s 21 local government areas.

The governor said his administration had remained committed to strengthening democracy at the grassroots, noting that Adamawa had successfully conducted four local government elections in seven years.

According to him, the achievement demonstrates the state’s dedication to democratic governance, a feat he said many states and previous administrations had failed to accomplish.

Fintiri reminded the newly elected officials that taking the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office was more than a ceremonial exercise, describing it as a solemn covenant with both the people and God.

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He stressed that every public office holder would one day account individually for how they discharged the responsibilities entrusted to them.

He urged the chairmen to see themselves as the face of government in their respective local councils and to ensure that government policies and programmes translated into tangible benefits for rural communities.

He also directed them to work closely with traditional rulers and Development Area Administrators to strengthen trust between the government and the people.

The governor emphasised that local government administration was a full-time responsibility, warning the council chairmen against abandoning their duty posts for extended stays in the state capital.

He said residents must always have access to their elected leaders, insisting that governance should be taken to the “last mile” where people need it most.

On financial management, Fintiri directed the chairmen to strictly adhere to the principles of transparency and accountability in the handling of public funds.

He warned that citizens were increasingly demanding prudent management of public resources and would hold elected officials accountable for every allocation meant for community development.

He urged them to shun corruption and ensure that every public expenditure reflected the needs of the people.