Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, has charged local government council chairmen and other public officials to uphold prudence, accountability and dedication in the management of public resources.
The Governor gave the charge while declaring open a three-day capacity-building workshop organised by the Ebonyi State Government in Abakaliki for council chairmen and vice chairmen, heads of personnel management, public relations practitioners, treasurers and coordinators of development centres across the state.
Governor Nwifuru reiterated his administration’s commitment to human-capital development, urging participants to take advantage of the training to improve their knowledge and deliver effective and responsive governance at the grassroots.
He said the administration’s People’s Charter of Needs provides avenues for greater citizen participation in the government’s decision-making process, stressing that properly trained public officers would be better equipped to respond effectively to the needs of the people.
The Governor expressed delight over the organisation of the workshop and commended the quality of speakers selected to facilitate the various sessions.
“I have said it severally that our LGA chairmen have a lot of work to do. You must understand the processes involved in governance, and I am happy that the speakers from various law enforcement agencies will do justice to the topics here,” he said.
Governor Nwifuru further reminded the participants that public office was a responsibility and not an avenue for personal enrichment.
“Serving the public is not an avenue to make money. You need to be very prudent in managing public funds and resources.
“You must at all times know that the legacies you build in the LGA will speak for you. You must be very dedicated to your job, avoid distractions and remain focused on your mission.”
The Governor urged the council chairmen and other participants to translate the knowledge gained from the workshop into practical improvements in governance and service delivery across their respective areas.
In his remarks, the lead consultant and trainer, Theodore Anazodo, described Governor Nwifuru as a strong advocate of human-capital development, noting that capacity-building programmes provide participants with opportunities to exchange ideas, improve their knowledge and bridge gaps in understanding.
Anazodo expressed appreciation to the Governor for supporting the initiative, stressing the importance of understanding the distinction between private and public responsibilities in the discharge of official duties.
“We are blessed to have the blessing of His Excellency to equip us with what we need to know. We need to know what it means to know private and public life, so that at the end of the day, we can beat our chest and say, we did the job,” he said.
The three-day workshop is expected to strengthen the administrative, financial, communication and governance capacities of participants and enhance effective service delivery at the grassroots.
