Posted by By Alloy Khenom on
The Rivers State Local Government Commission has been commended for taking a bold step to sponsor a workshop to educate the grassroots government.....
The Rivers State Local Government Commission has been commended for taking a bold step to sponsor a workshop to educate the grassroots government on the activities of the Code of Conduct Bureau.
This commendation was made in Port Harcourt on Tuesday this week by the Secretary of the Code of Conduct Bureau in the Presidency, Mr. Sam Saba when he led a delegation of the Bureau on a courtesy visit to the Commission's Chairman, Chief Dr. Ephraim Etete-Owoh in his office.
Mr. Saba said that the sponsorship of the workshop was a step in the right direction to adequately inform both the political and career class of the third-tier government on the legal functions of the bureau.
The Secretary opined that if the third tier government, which he described as the foundation of the political bearing in the country was put right in the scheme of things, the society would be on the right path in all aspects of dealings.
He said that majority of the petitions before the EFCC were from the third-tier government and attributed this to lack of knowledge of the activities of the bureau.
According to a statement issued by the Press Officer to the Commission, Mr. Omoni Ayo Tamuno, Mr. Saba said that "if the leadership of the third tier government was right everything would be right" and added that because the Local Government was closer to the people it became easier to monitor their activities.
In his response, the Chairman of the commission, Chief Ephraim Etete-Owoh thanked the State Governor, Dr. Peter Odili for giving members of the commission the opportunity to serve the state in this capacity.
Chief Etete-Owoh said that at the inauguration of the commission, the Governor charged the members to revitalise the third tier government to function effectively, an assignment he said, was being pursued with vigour and determination.
He explained that the sponsorship of the workshop was in line with the governor's directive to reform the entire system to serve the people better, and to achieve result.
The chairman noted the constitutional role of the Bureau and promised that the commission would continue to partner with it to properly inform the staff of the Unified Local Government Service on the dangers of refusal in whichever form to co-operate with the bureau.
Chief Etete-Owoh said that service was paramount to any one entrusted with position of authority and not the size of office being occupied.