We want Oil Companies to relocate their headquarters to Eastern Obolo – Council Boss

… Decries  poor attendant of Workers to work in the council
The Transition Chairman of Eastern Obolo Local Government Area, Hon. Ukomkpa Okonko have called for the immediate relocation of Oil Companies headquarters operating in the area to their operating based.
Ukomkpa, who made the call last Friday when State Chairmen of political parties in Akwa Ibom State visited him in his office as part of the ongoing Local Government/ProjectAssessment tour said “in terms of IGR, everybody believes we have oil, yes the oil is there, but unfortunately we just realized that every money that is made from it goes to the state and federal governments and not to the benefit of the local government here because no oil company pays revenue to Eastern Obolo, that is why we have been a bit stagnated because of this lapses. We just realized that and so, we are appealing to the state government to see how they can get something to the local government. The plight of the people here is quite pathetic and if we don’t do something about it, it would affect our people.
“…the oil companies that are operating here are on water. We’ve been crying, we’ve been trying, we’ve been doing it all alone, but I think the present government is showing more effort, commitment and sincerity to make sure that these oil companies are relocated to Akwa Ibom State. We have just told that one company is coming in. If they don’t have their residential quarters in Eastern Obolo, they would not operate. If they don’t build their farms here, they would not operate. Gone are the days that people would come and deceived us and then ran away.
He narrated that there are so many Oil Companies operating in the local government, “and we don’t see them, then how do they pay you revenue. It becomes very difficult. We really happy that the Governor is showing serious concern and he’s working toward making sure that the companies are no more ghost and I’m believing with time, things would definitely turn around.
The Council Boss used the opportunity to appreciate the state Governor on his continuous commitment and determination to sustain and promote the industrialization program of the present administration, adding the people of Eastern Obolo have benefited immensely from the program were thousands of the youths of the area are currently being employed to work in the coconut plantation.
While thanking the IPAC for it resolved to partner Udom’s administration as to bring much needed developments to the state, the Council Boss noted that apart from massive road construction in the area, the Governor has also renovated Classroom blocks in schools amongst other developmental projects.
However, the Chairman while addressing the State Chairman of Political Parties in the state, lamented over the unwholesome attitude workers in the council.
“The problem we are facing in the council is the poor attendant of workers at work. It unfortunate that people don’t come to anymore, and it has to be addressed frankly. You have come, and you have seen the council, and there is nothing you can do as the chairman of local government because, you don’t pay them. It only when you pay them that you can define what they do. It’s the commission that pays, so every civil servants are answerable to the commission today. If I want anything in the Secret Registry now, I will not have assess now, sometimes you would called before they come reluctantly. So, when it comes to attendant at work, I think it is very very poor.
On the issue of maintenance of government’s facilities and structures in the area, Hon. Okonko noted that present Transition Committee has try its very best in that aspect. “When we came in to this Council, we discovered that the whole place were bushes, the roofs were leaking, the entire place was dirty and Eastern Obolo didn’t have light. So, the first project we carryout was to plant electricity and wires from were it ends there to Okoroette, and that was how we could have light again. We have also gives our workers a conducive environment by doing some little renovations in the council, repaired the leaking roofs, repainted the walls and grasses all over the council.
Earlier, the Chairman of IPAC, Engr. Martins Inyang who noted that after elections, there must be governance, maintained that the aims of the exercise is to assess the level of performance of leaders at the local government level which according to him is the closest government to the people at the grassroots.
Apart from that, the Chairman stressed that the Governor during his electioneering campaigns placed as his top priority to offer the people of the state effective and quality leadership as well as provide dividends of democracy to the people of the state, noting that, that was why IPAC took upon itself to go round the 31 LGAs to assess the level of developmental projects so far initiated by the current administration in the state.
“And also, we assess the effort by your Transition Committee in the Local Government Council to sustain and maintain the existing structures and facilities in their respective Area. Despite the limited resources witnessed in the country, we cannot stop giving democratic dividends to the people, especially at the grassroots level.” He pointed out that some of the perquisite of the assessment are among other things include Staff attendants at work, maintenance of structures/facilities, payment of salary/allowances, public relation, probity/competence, community based projects, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Government Cardinal programmes and finance proprieties.
Also, the Special Assistant to the Governor on InterParty Matters, Mr. Lawrence Udoh JP, who accompanied to the tour used the opportunity to advise the Council Boss and his members to mobilize the people of the area to go out enmass for voters registration as INEC has commenced the registration exercise, noting that without voter’s card, no one would be allow to near the polling units during the upcoming general election.
“The National Identity Card registration is also very important, the council must also rise to ensure that the people get registered to have that identity as a Nigerian.” He called on the people to continuously render their support to the governor whom according to him has made the people proud in terms of managing the little resources allocated to the state.