The Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), has urged the newly appointed sole administrators across the state’s 23 Local Government Areas to place the welfare of the people at the centre of their duties while upholding the highest standards of accountability and financial prudence.
Speaking during a strategic meeting held at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday, Ibas emphasised that his administration would not condone any form of financial recklessness, abuse of office, or mismanagement of public resources. He made it clear that the days of unchecked spending and opaque governance at the local level were over.
“You are stewards of the people’s trust and resources,” he said, “and it is your duty to ensure that every naira spent serves the public good. The people of Rivers State must see the value of their resources reflected in tangible development and improved living conditions.”
The retired Naval chief charged the council administrators to channel their energy and resources into key areas including environmental sanitation, healthcare delivery at the primary level, education, welfare and discipline of civil servants under their jurisdiction, and youth engagement initiatives.
He warned that the performance of each LGA administrator would be closely monitored, and their effectiveness measured based on results in these critical sectors. According to him, these focus areas are vital to restoring confidence in governance at the grassroots and would form the benchmark for evaluating their leadership in the weeks ahead.
Ibas reminded the administrators that they hold a sacred responsibility to govern with transparency, diligence, and respect for the needs of their people. He underscored the importance of open governance, stressing that citizens have the right to know how their money is being utilised and to expect accountability from public officials.
In reaffirming his commitment to good governance, Ibas disclosed that mechanisms were being put in place to ensure strict adherence to due process and financial discipline at all levels of local government administration. He maintained that his interim leadership would enforce zero tolerance for corruption and inefficiency in the management of public affairs.
While encouraging the sole administrators to rise to the demands of their new roles, Ibas also called on them to work collaboratively towards restoring democratic institutions across the state, maintaining peace, and fostering stability within their local councils.
The meeting comes amid heightened attention on governance and accountability in Rivers State following the political shifts that led to the recent suspension of elected officials and the appointment of interim LGA leadership.
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