Group Lambasts Kwara Government Over Appointment Of Development Officers For 16 Council Areas, Says It’s Waste Of Public Funds
The Kwara State Government’s recent appointment of Development Officers for the state’s 16 local government areas has drawn criticism from the Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), an anti-corruption civil society organization. In a press statement, ENetSuD’s Director of Community Services, Fatima Bintu Dikko, condemned the appointments as unnecessary and wasteful of public funds.
The group accused the state governor of squandering public funds by appointing individuals to positions that already exist and are occupied by numerous civil servants. Each of the 16 local government areas in Kwara State already has a Department of Community Services with Community Development Officers, who are civil servants responsible for community development activities. Additionally, the Kwara State Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs, and Community Development also has a Directorate of Community Development with designated officers for each LGA.
ENetSuD questioned the rationale behind appointing new politicians as LGA-DOs when civil servants already hold these positions. They called for clarity from the governor on the need for these appointments and demanded a public explanation. The group highlighted that existing officers at the ministry and local government levels lack the necessary empowerment to carry out their duties effectively, despite being paid with public funds.
While acknowledging the recent appointment of a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) for Community Development as a positive step, ENetSuD criticized the governor’s decision to appoint 16 new LGA-DOs. They viewed this move as indicative of a lack of direction in the administration’s grassroots development strategy and criticized it as an unnecessary expenditure of public funds for political gain.
ENetSuD also denounced other actions by the governor, including the appointment of illegal Transition Implementation Committees (TIC) to replace democratically-elected councils in the 16 LGAs, as examples of executive misconduct.
Rather than making unnecessary appointments, ENetSuD urged the governor to prioritize holding local government elections promptly. They argued that conducting elections would be a more constructive approach to facilitating genuine development in the 16 LGAs, rather than engaging in reckless appointments.
In summary, ENetSuD’s statement reflects concerns over the misuse of public funds through unnecessary political appointments and calls for greater transparency and accountability in governance. They advocate for a focus on empowering existing civil servants and holding democratic elections to drive grassroots development in Kwara State.
Sahara Reporters
