Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has sworen in the newly elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the Six Area Councils on Tuesday in Abuja.
The swearing-in was in compliance with a recent court order directing the Minister to swear them in.
Bello urged the Chairmen to focus on good administration in order to meet the people’s desires and aspirations.
The Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Hussaini Yusuf, who was represented by Justice Suleiman Belgore, administered the oath of office to the Chairmen and their vice-chairmen.
The minister also urged them to uphold the Oath of Office, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the FCT’s rules and regulations.
According to the Minister: “The time of electioneering campaign is over. Now it is time to face and focus on good governance to ensure that electorate enjoys more dividends of democracy in the territory.
” You should accord priority attention to Primary Health Care (PHC) services; sanitation primary education and other basic social amenities,” Bello said.
Meanwhile, the Mandate Secretary for FCT Area Councils Services Secretariat, Abubakar Dantsoho, also enjoined the chairmen to prioritize their area of concentration.
He said, ” You were elected to perform and you are going to be judged by your performance. You can see about three of them were reelected if they have not performed well I’m sure they will not be elected by the electorate.
” So, it is a very big challenge, it is not a time for a jamboree. It is time for governance and I urge them to do their best otherwise we will be out for them.
” At the FCT Area Council Services Secretariat we are very in charge of the area councils and we will be going after them, inspecting their programmes and whoever does not perform we will let the law take its course.”
Earlier, the chairmen, while taking their Oath of Office pledged to defend the constitution of Nigeria and abide by the rules and regulations guiding the running of FCT without any fear or favour.
They also vowed to govern in fairness, devoid of discrimination against all residents, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliations, even as they promised to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities in honesty and integrity.