Prince Adamu Ibrahim Alih has called on the Bassa local government of Kogi state to play their roles as good citizens by monitoring activities of those elected to lead them.
Alih, a chairmanship aspirant under All Progressives Congress (APC), made the call when he unveiled his 10-point agenda for Bassa local government on Tuesday.
The unveiling which coincided with his birthday witnessed the presentation of his mission statement.
Alih dedicated his birthday to those who lost their lives during communal clashes in Bassa local government.
“As part of our desires to serve our people of Bassa LGA, which comprises of three districts: Bassa-Kwomu districts with 5 wards and 62 polling units, Bassa-Nge district with 3 wards and 34 polling units, and Mozum district with 2 wards and 11 polling units, with a total voting power of over 60,000,
we present this ten points agenda with the utmost conviction that we cannot continue to play politics with the progress of the people.
“Note that whatever promises we make shall be fulfilled by the grace of God Almighty.
“We wholeheartedly promise that we shall be responsible and accountable to the people of Bassa Local Government Area. We promise to put our peoples interest and welfare first. We demand that the people of the Local Government should hold this manifesto as a reference to our stewardship.
“We call on the people to be observing and monitoring governance as we run a government that is open, tolerant and just,” he said.
Alih announced that if elected, his administration as chairman of the local government will constitute an Elders Advisory Council which shall be charged with the responsibilities of overseeing some of the assigned projects of the local government.
Prince Alih’s 10-Point Agenda
1. Civil Service System:
The civil service is key to the actualization of government programmes and policies. Our goal is to bring back the golden age of service for every civil servant in the local government.
We all know that local government exist in name even as they are constituted by general elections. We shall make our Local Government a true definition of third tiers of government where all the Departments in the council shall be made functional and be made integral part of the developmental plan of the local government. We shall push them to their rightful position.
The civil service shall be made functional, dynamic and progressive. We shall run a civil service that will make each office perform its function to the fullest. We shall discourage idleness and promote hard work and initiative.
We are promising our civil servants that our government will promote their duties and responsibilities effectively so as to make them proud of being local government workers. We shall boost the spirit of work in each individual. We shall improve on the welfare and ensure their promotions are given as at when due.
2. Health and Sanitation:
Health cannot be wealth when people find it difficult and impossible to access affordable and efficient health system. The closer a health centre is, the better for my people.
We shall select ten (10) Primary Health Care (PHC) centres with NYSC Doctors on call. We intend to introduce a drug revolving funds in our health care centres so that our people can get drugs at very cheaper rate. Our health objectives is the establishment of 24hours health care delivery.
Mobile health service shall be available through the assistance of Federal and State Ministries of Health in collaboration with NGOs.
We shall introduce the monthly environmental sanitation by engaging our youths in the program with monthly allowances.
3. Electricity:
We made a vow to ourselves, to immediately meet with the Ministry of Rural Development, Abuja Electricity Development Company (AEDC) and relevant stakeholders to pursue a concrete DEAL with concerned stakeholders as soon as we assume office by extending the national grid power supply from Ajaokuta by God grace.
4. Education System:
We intend to make the supervisory department of Local Education Authority (LEA) functional.
Our government will select some schools from the three Districts for total renovation and up grading to the best standard.
Those teachers in the schools will be provided with all teaching aids and all classes in the scheme to have teaching materials from primary one to primary six.
There is urgent need to rejuvenate the primary schools by expanding, renovating and upgrading. Our government, with massive restructuring of our primary schools will end the seat on bear floor at the end of our tenure, by God Grace. This enormous task will be undertaken with the full co-operation of teachers and parents, as we intend taking Training and retraining of the teachers seriously.
We shall revive the inter/intra house competition, quiz competition, and football competition across the three districts.
5. Water Supply:
One of the social amenities to be provided by government is water.
We shall not default in our responsibilities in providing water to our various community.
Our focus shall be to invest in this direction, as it is said “Water is life”. We shall declare “Operation Water for All” in Bassa LGA by God Grace.
6. Agricultural and Infrastructural Development:
Our focus is also on agriculture. We intend to make farming easier for our people through provision of farming equipment, provision of soft loan for the farmers, making fertilizer available for our people, opening up of many closed road linking all our villages for easy movement of goods and ensuring that those bridges within Bassa LGA are built and constructed.
7. Commerce/SME:
Our government will, as matter of commercial necessity, upgrade and modernise the various central markets in the three districts, through Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the provision of basic social amenities.
We will identify at some small medium scale industries to be promoted around a cluster of unemployed skilled and semi-skilled youths. We shall approach any banking industry that will approve loan accessibility for our market women and farmers.
8. Artisans:
Our commercial and industrial programmes will carry along artisans: mechanics, carpenters, welders and other crafts people. We will establish technical villages or sites for these artisans with requisite facilities and equipment to enhance productivity and creativity. We encourage all handwork people to group themselves into cooperatives so as to make it easy to access loans from Central Bank of Nigeria through NIRSAL microfinance Bank and Bank of Industry.
9. Security:
Our government will institute a security structure and operations that will be effective and protective of all. The security agencies will be repositioned and interwoven with our traditional institutions, i.e District Heads, Village Heads and their subordinates to ensure standard security for all.
We shall repair and refurbish some of the grounded police vehicles that are serviceable at both divisions in the local government and provide each of the stations with more police officers.
We shall have a joint task-force of security patrol within the three districts which include the Military, Police, Civil Defence Corps and Vigilantes with check points at various strategic locations.
10. Accountability and Transparency:
With sincere and faithful mind, we promise to account for every kobo been spend in the local government, as whatever we do shall be transparent and open to all. We promise to judiciously utilize the resources of Bassa LGA with fear of God Almighty.
Remember that the only thing standing between Bassa LGA and its growth is good leadership.
This manifesto is not the totality of what we hope to achieve for the good people of Bassa LGA. It is presented as a handy contract paper of progress between us and our people.
Thank you.
Prince Adamu Ibrahim Alih,
Chairmanship Aspirant for Bassa LGA.
