Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has told the newly inaugurated 637 Government Liaison Officers (GLOs) to go and develop their communities.
The 637, mainly top government officials, are to take part in the Community Government Councils (CGCs), a fourth tier administration created in the state.
Some of the GLOs include the deputy governor, Jude Agbaso; secretary to the state government, Anthony Anwuka; chief of staff, Government House, Eze Madumere, members of the legislature, members of the state executive council, executive secretaries and the traditional rulers.
The GLOs, according to Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro, commissioner in charge of the community governments, are to encourage and stimulate development in the communities; provide avenue for co-operation between the communities, the government and donor agencies concerned with grassroots development.
They would also promote cultural heritage and establish channels of communication within themselves and the government, and encourage public spirited individuals, private and business sectors to show interest in investment and development of the communities.
The governor said the GLOs were appointed to help use their potentials to contribute to the development of their communities; saying that, “life is meaningless if it cannot help those in need or contribute to better the society than you met it.”
According to him, “we (citizens) are stronger in the (our) communities than in the local government; we are stronger in the community than we are in the state and the federal levels; if the economy is strong in the community, (then) the economy of the country would be stronger.”
He reminded the GLOs that the community was the base upon which every citizen operates; and this area has been long neglected.
Governor Okorocha said GLOs are responsible citizens of the communities who have excelled in life, and can assume the level of governance in their communities to transform them like any other urban city.
BEN EGUZOZIE
