Stay In Your Councils, Don’t Live In Yola— Governor Fintiri Tells Adamawa LG Chairmen

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa state urged the newly sworn-in 21 local government council chairmen to reside and work in their respective councils rather than operating from the state capital, Yola.

Speaking on Wednesday during the swearing-in ceremony of the elected chairmen and 226 councillors, Fintiri declared that the era of absentee leadership at the grassroots was over, insisting that local government chairmen must remain accessible to the people who elected them.

“I must emphasize that the era of absenteeism at your respective local governments is gone. Under no circumstance should your people look for you and you are not there,” the governor said.

“You are not elected to work in Yola. Except on extreme official assignments, I would not like to see your individual faces here.”

Fintiri reminded the council chairmen that their offices represent the closest tier of government to the people and urged them to make governance visible by remaining in their communities, engaging residents regularly, and addressing their concerns.

He also warned them against corruption, stressing that public funds must be managed with transparency and accountability.

According to him, citizens are becoming increasingly aware of how public resources are spent and would no longer tolerate the diversion or misuse of funds meant for development.

“The people whom you just swore to serve today have not just become wiser but bolder. They would follow their monies wherever it goes and demand accountability. They would ask questions and demand answers,” he said.

He urged the chairmen to prioritize projects that directly improve the lives of rural dwellers, describing them as the government’s frontline representatives at the grassroots.

The governor further called on the council chairmen to work closely with traditional rulers and Development Area Administrators to strengthen public confidence in government and ensure development reaches every community.

Reflecting on his administration’s record, Fintiri commended the Adamawa State Independent Electoral Commission (ADSIEC) for conducting what he described as a credible local government election across the state’s 21 councils.

He noted that his administration had successfully conducted four local government elections in seven years, describing it as evidence of its commitment to strengthening democratic governance at the grassroots.

Fintiri also reminded the newly inaugurated officials that the oath of office they took was a sacred commitment, saying they would ultimately be accountable not only to the electorate but also to God for how they exercise the powers entrusted to them.

He concluded by urging their families and associates to avoid placing unnecessary pressure on them, saying the new council leaders needed prayers and support to deliver on their mandate.