The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr Christopher Maikalangu, has inaugurated the newly elected councillors for the council’s 12 wards, urging them to prioritise grassroots development and maintain strict government confidentiality.
The inauguration ceremony took place at the council secretariat in Abuja on Monday.
Newsextra24 reports that the ceremony followed the swearing-in of the AMAC leadership by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, earlier in the day.
Addressing the councillors, Maikalangu said their four-year tenure had commenced, stressing that their primary responsibility was to serve their constituents diligently and address their needs.
“Today is a unique day in AMAC. Our days have started counting from today. As the councillors of various wards, your duty is to submit yourself to your people.
“You are to hear their cry. Whatever you can do, please do it. And anyone you can’t, seek for my audience,” Maikalangu said.
The chairman urged the councillors to uphold the oath of office they had taken and conduct themselves in accordance with the Constitution and the responsibilities of public office.
He also advised them against leaking official secrets, adding that as government representatives, their statements would be heavily scrutinised by the public.
Maikalangu further urged the councillors to prepare for the demands of public office and remain accessible to the people who elected them.
“Let me reaffirm the oath you just took now. Remember that here is your house. It is not healthy that whatever you are doing in your house is given to outsiders.
”Please respect the Constitution of Nigeria and keep the secrecy of the federal government. Whatever you are saying here belongs to the government,” the chairman warned.
Maikalangu also advised the councillors to brace up for the financial and social pressures of public office, urging them not to flee from the electorate who voted them into power.
”I am giving you only two weeks, you will start seeing people in your house early morning. Don’t run away, because you chose to serve the people. You told the people to vote for you. So stay and answer them,” he added.
Earlier, the Director of Administration, AMAC, Hajiya Hajara Umar, commended the chairman for fostering cordial relations between the council administration and its workforce.
She assured the newly inaugurated legislators of the full cooperation of the council’s bureaucracy to ensure effective service delivery and grassroots development.
”You assume office at a defining moment when our residents rightfully expect a path to representation, robust lawmaking, and accelerated grassroots development.
”Your role as the closest representatives of the people is pivotal to the success of this administration.
“To this end, I want to assure this honourable House of the unalloyed commitment and administrative cooperation of the AMAC workforce,” Umar said.
Newsextra24 reports that the ceremony was attended by traditional rulers, political stakeholders and supporters from the various wards across the municipality.
