Bayelsa State Government has charged its 32 Rural Development Authorities (RDAs) to intensify efforts at completing all ongoing projects for inauguration and use to improve the living conditions of the rural populace.
Peter Akpe, deputy governor of Bayelsa State, gave the charge on Tuesday while presiding over a meeting with the chairmen and principal officers of the various RDAs in Yenagoa.
A statement by Doubara Atasi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the Deputy Governor, said Akpe stressed the need for due diligence in documentation and procurement in line with extant regulatory policies to ensure accountability and quality in project execution.
While commending the principal officers, including treasurers and directors for supporting their chairmen, he urged the chairmen to attach a premium to project delivery for people at the grassroots to feel the impact of governance.
Akpe seized the opportunity to call on the chairmen and all staff of the RDAs to participate fully in all the activities lined up for the Bayelsa at 30 Anniversary Celebration, which is expected to commence on the 28th of this month.
According to him, some of the major activities to mark the anniversary include Ijaw Language awareness programme, sporting events, road flotilla from Igbogene to the Oxbow Lake, boat regattas, musical concert, anniversary lecture, state mega praise, and anniversary dinner among others.
He also reminded the RDA chairmen and all political office holders that Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, wields the highest political authority at the state level that must be obeyed and respected for the common good of the state.
Akpe underscored the importance of constructive criticism in governance and urged them to propagate the good works of the state government by acting as a bridge between the government and the people at the grassroots.
His words: ‘We appreciate you for your support, and for playing your roles as chairmen and principal officers of our RDAs.
‘But let me also use this opportunity to encourage you to speed up and complete all ongoing projects; follow up on your documentations and ensure that they are properly done in conformity with all procurement regulations.
‘We need a compendium of all the projects you have done from the beginning of your appointment as chairman – the projects you have done in pictures, soft and hard copies, including the titles, and communities where the projects are located.
‘Additionally, please ensure that you participate wholly in the forthcoming anniversary programme. The anniversary begins on the 28th with several activities lined up including an Ijaw Language awareness programme. Ensure that you are all part of it.
‘Finally, we must all work and contribute to the system we belong to. We should be seen showing our support for the programmes of the administration. Propagate the good works of the government. If there is something that we need to do, then constructively critique it and get it across to us to address it.
‘I always tell everybody that there is only one captain in the boat. As he directs, all of us follow. So do well to key into the administration’s ideas and ideologies.’
Some of the RDA chairmen who spoke at the meeting expressed gratitude to the Deputy Governor for his competence in handling local government and RDA affairs, and assured him of their preparedness to complete their ongoing projects in no distant time.