LGAs END OF TENURE: WHY OBASEKI SHOULD SIEVE OUT UNDERACHIEVERS, SET AGENDA FOR NEXT CHAIRMEN

LGAs END OF TENURE: WHY OBASEKI SHOULD SIEVE OUT UNDERACHIEVERS, SET AGENDA FOR NEXT CHAIRMEN

EBEN ENASCO REPORTING

Sir Thomas Browne was the first to put the expression, “Charity begins at home” into print in the form we now use today.

For the leadership of Governor

Godwin Obaseki to remain trusted in the eye of his beholders, he "should” apply the principle of the Sir Thomas Browne First expression of Charity Begins at home.

As the Tenure of the Local Government Chairmen in EDO State draw to an end, there is the need to ask the local Government Administrators to show their report cards of performance.

For three years tenure, the people who voted them must now have a proof of why they were elected into the seat of power now that most of them are highly ambitious to continue a run for second tenure in office.

Seeking a second term is okay but it must be merited and well-

deserved, otherwise it would be preposterous to allow underachiever amongst those clamoring for such to continue in office.

Governor Obaseki should now do everything within a constitutional rights to stamp out many of those in local government authority using quality performance index strategy to sieve underachievers.

He should be able to set the right agenda for the next dispensation because, Governance is made up of the political and institutional processes through which decisions are taken and implemented.

Governance is most effective when these processes are participatory, accountable, transparent, efficient, inclusive, and respect the rule of law.

Good governance is particularly important at local level, where governments interact with citizens and communities on a daily basis.

From all evidences, it is clear that, Improving local governance is a vital tool to guarantee peace, boost economic development, maximize administrative efficiency, and ensure social inclusion and environmental sustainability.

Improving local governance across the world includes research and advocacy on decentralization and local democracy, local finances, gender equality and access to basic services, all of which are essential elements of good local governance.

Local Government's Councils are largely bedrocks for any formidable Governments achievement.

On the other hand, the purpose of local government is to provide an organized system where councils exercise their power and responsibilities to work together for peace, order and good governance of their municipal districts.

Effective local governments provide overall quality of life for the people who reside in their communities.

In Edo State, most Local Government Administrators are underachievers with exception to a few.

Local governments were designed with the purpose of creating order in ways that serve the public democratically.

The public elects leaders that they have the most faith in to run an effective local government.

In electing leaders, the public gives these elected officials the power to do whatever is necessary to perform its functions and to achieve the municipality’s objectives, including giving the officials the power to levy taxes on citizens.

In exchange for their power, local citizens expect their government to be fair and to spend their taxes wisely and without waste.

Citizens expect government workers to work as efficiently as possible so that their taxes are put to the best use.

The governor must now be bold as ever to live a legacy that will correct all forms of corridors that are to come, by way of building credibility in those chosen to represent the local strata.

The government of Obaseki should be courageous enough to now hold a mesh device to separate lumps from powdered material, straining liquids, grading particles who offered nothing than propaganda during their tenure that is expected to wind down in a matter of weeks.

In achieving this, the governor and political leaders should allow genuine participating stakeholders make their choices not resigning to bedroom selections to favor those democratic destitute to hold sway in corridor of power.

Recall that, one of the most important thing that attracted the people to Governor Obaseki was his ability to sieve out pretenders who have nothing to offer.

In extension, the governor is expected to pull strings in getting the right people who will help drive the developmental precedents set to drive people oriented policies in the state.

To best understand the importance of how to run an effective local government, it’s important to trace back to under the original intents and purposes of local government.

As part of their duties, councilpersons are expected to work toward improving social, economic, and environmental viability and sustainability for the benefit of their district.

Their duties also entail promoting appropriate business and employment opportunities for citizens.

Effective local governments provide overall quality of life for the people who reside in their communities.

Driving effective local government institution It's not enough to grade roads and televise it on local Stations.

Along these lines, citizens expect that the rate they get charged for services the government provides will be justified and reasonable.

Citizens expect their elected officials to be accountable for their actions and decisions.

Accountability considers that local citizens are entitled to the transparency of information, except

information that is confidential.

THE CONNECTION BETWEEN EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFICIENCY IN SELECTING COUNCIL CHAIRMEN.

It’s common to see the words “effective” and “efficient” together, even though they hold very different meanings.

While the two words have starkly different definitions, they often go hand-in-hand.

Effectiveness refers to the process of producing a desired intent or result, and it requires doing the right thing to make it happen.

On the other hand, efficiency refers to preventing or minimizing wasting materials, energy, effort, money or time. We can further break down the word efficiency by categorizing it.

Technical efficiency refers to doing the most or making the most of something. A common idiom that relates to technical efficiency is “getting the most bang for your buck.”

Allocative efficiency refers to using resources that produce the highest value.

A good example of allocative efficiency is opening up a coffee shop near a train station.

This type of business is attractive and convenient for commuters who enjoy grabbing a cup of coffee during their morning commute.

The new coffee shop also receives a boost for the business as the traffic from the trains will help them to become profitable quickly.

Dynamic efficiency refers to better and easier ways of doing the same thing.

EXPECTATIONS FOR EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS IN THE ROLE OF THE COUNCIL CHAIRMEN.

In addition to having legal responsibilities for ensuring good governance, council members must consider the health and welfare of the citizens they represent.

Council members must effectively serve as representatives of the community, which considers that they must fairly account for the diverse needs of the community when making council decisions.

Effective council members encourage their constituents to be actively engaged in civic matters and to foster cohesion amongst members of the community.

Each member of the council is responsible for working as part of a team to establish strategic objectives and monitor progress toward achieving them.

Transparency is a necessary component for ensuring that the council manages the government’s resources responsibly. Citizens hold the council members and local governments accountable for carrying out their duties as efficiently and effectively as possible.

Local governments are part of larger communities. In this role, council members should advocate for the interests of their local community to other local governments and communities.

Along those lines, effective council members are responsible partners in government when they also take the needs of neighboring communities into account.

Some duties that council members perform with effectiveness and efficiency in mind include:

Developing proposals that are clearly in the community’s best interests. Planning and providing services and facilities for local citizens’ use. Building and strengthening the community’s infrastructure. Making strategic plans for land use.

Raising revenue to enable the council members to perform their duties. Creating, passing and enforcing local laws.

Fulfilling their duties and functions to the best of their ability. Not abusing their powers. Performing other functions related to peace, order and good governance.

While it’s important for council members to reduce spending wherever it makes sense, sometimes it makes sense to invest money to acquire greater savings in costs and labor through more efficient operations.

Electronic processes for online document storage, agenda creation and minutes creation support such good governance principles as accountability and transparency.

Video recordings provide accountability. In addition, video recordings offer convenience for citizens who wish to view them in real time or watch them later online.

In essence, this would offer multiple ways for council members to create efficiency and effectiveness.

The benefits of efficiency and effectiveness far outweigh the costs of investing in redneck personnel who are only seeking to enrich, line their pockets and impoverish their people.

Governor Obaseki should be able to display Prudence in the selection and presentation processes of those to bear the standard of local Government seats in the next dispensation.