By EMMANUEL ANTSWEN

Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue on Friday sworn in 23 caretaker committee chairmen.

Performing the ceremony at the Government House in Makurdi, Alia charged the chairmen to deliver quality services to the people at the local level.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor had requested the House of Assembly to extend the tenure of the caretaker committees, to allow the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC) enough time to conduct council elections in the state.

NAN also reports that the State House of Assembly had screened and confirmed the nominees sent to them by the governor, but Mr Timothy Hembaor, the earlier nominee from Ushongo LGA was replaced with Mvendaga Atetan.

Alia charged the chairmen to forfeit excuses and serve their local government areas diligently, in order to ensure that their work reflected the manifesto of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

He urged them to give their best, especially as his administration had granted autonomy to the local governments.

The governor charged them to remain at their various duty posts, attending to the needs of the people and ensuring that the residents enjoyed the dividends of democracy.

He urged them to copy the infrastructural strides at the state level down to the local government level, as his administration’s plan to ensure such infrastructural developments were replicated at the third tier of government in the state.

Responding on behalf of the chairmen, the Caretaker Chairman of Konshisha Local Government Area, Mr Philip Achuah, said that they would do their best to replicate the governor’s efforts at the local level.

Achuah appreciated the governor for granting quasi-autonomy to the local government system in the state and promised that they would not fail in their duties.

The newly inaugurated Caretaker Committee Chairmen are Guda Dennis (Vandeikya), Philip Achuah (Konshisha); Shaku Justine (Katshina Ala); Neji Terhile (Kwande); Avar Verlumun (Gboko); Roy Terna Ashirga (Tarkaa); Agber Cephas (Buruku); James Dwem (Makurdi) and Mrs Comfort Agbo (Gwer East).

Also, Henry Agba (Gwer-West); Unongo Simon (Guma); Mvendaga Atetan (Ushongo); Iorzaa Victor (Ukum); Benjamin Uzenda (Logo) and Mrs Gloria Ogebe (Ado).

Others are Philip Ebenyaku (Agatu); Ochai Alidu (Apa); Adekpe Onum (Obi); Emmanuel Aba (Ogbadibo); Adugbo Fred (Ohimini); Dr. Wilson Eche (Otukpo); Onyilo Omale (Okpokwu) and Ire Arubi (Oju). (NAN)

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