Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has charged public officers to imbibe the culture of accountability as a measure to gain public trust and hold government accountable to the people.
Eno , while addressing participants during Chief Emeka Anyaoku Lecture Series held in Uyo Tuesday on Good Governance with the theme “Imperatives of Good Governance In Nigeria” said he was committed to deliver democratic dividends to the people through the A-R-I-S-E agenda by using accountability as a template for good governance.
He informed participants that he has mandated Commissioners and Heads of Agencies to brief the public on activities of their department to keep the 7.9 Million residents of the State abreast with activities of their offices.
“We don’t just want to keep paying money and pay bills. I really want to see where these funds are going, what it seeks to achieve.
“I told them and said you know what, everyday I wake up, I know that I am accountable to the people and I told him and said, I want my Commissioners to begin to step out and say the things they are doing in their ministries. Let the people hear. Let them talk about the ministry that they are in charge.
“These are ways to try to be accountable, to let the people know that we are not in office for ourselves.
“We have about 7.9 Million people in this State, and it is a sacred responsibility.
“We need to each day show to the people that we are here to serve them”, he stated.
Eno maintained that the A.R.I.S.E. Agenda remains as the compass to navigate the programmes of his administration and announced plans to flag-off the One-Per- Local Government Project describing it as a development catalyst in the grassroots.
He assured that the project would make available signature projects in every local government area of the State within two years .
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“In five months of being in office, we have tried to show the direction we want to go, and we have tried to stay on our campaigns promises through the ARISE Agenda.”
The Governor commended Chief Emeka Anyaoku on whose capacity the lecture series was held and spoke of him as a rare gem and a beacon of hope for the future generations, stressing that he is legendary for distinguishing himself as an advocate of good governance from the country.
He described as apt the choice of the State for the 12th Annual Lecture Series and commended the organisers of the event, Youth Affairs International Foundation, for their decision to immortalise Chief Anyaoku , assuring them of his support for the programme.
Ayaoku; a former Commonwealth Secretary General recalled that the Lecture was first hosted by former Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fasola followed by his home State, Anambra where Governor Peter Obi honoured him as the host and now Akwa Ibom State under the leadership of Pastor Umo Eno who has taken the turn by hosting the twelveth in the series.
He expressed delight having come from a state that has showcased good governance from the past leadership to the present which anchors good governance on the ARISE Agenda.
Ayaoku said he visited Akwa Ibom for the first time and admired the ambience of the state as he commended Pastor Umo Eno led-administration for his passion in education , healthcare delivery ,and agriculture.
He appreciated the guest Lecturer, Professor Echosa E. Osaghae, for giving justice to the discourse by delivering an extempore lecture adding that the discourse was apt to the Nigerian State.
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