The chairman–elect for Udung Uko Local Government Council, Prince Atanang Osung has reiterated the commitment of his forthcoming leadership to the development and wellbeing of the area and the people.
Prince Osung stated this during the inauguration of a seven-man transition implementation committee to usher in his administration in December, 2020.
The committee is saddled with the responsibility to interface with the out-going administration of the local government and develop a positive framework that would aid the smooth transfer of the mantle of leadership from Hon (Elder) Okon Oku -led outgoing administration to the newly elected officials.
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According to Prince Osung, the committee members are men of positive track records, who are renowned for high sense of patriotism and endowed with enormous wealth of experience.
He said that they will carry out their assignment promptly and as expected to enable smooth transition.
The committee is headed by a one-time chairman of council in the area, Dr. (Barr) Asuquo Anwana, while other members are Pastor Victor Richard, Dr. Abasita Ntekim, Dr. Effiong Onutuei, Hon Nkereuwem Ekung as well as the current secretary of council, Hon Okokon Ekpe, while Engr. Emmanuel Okon Sam is to serve as the secretary of the committee.
The newly elected chairman, Prince Osung, while further expressing satisfaction and confidence in the caliber of persons drafted into the committee to execute the onerous task, said their past leadership records and contributions, informed their selection.
He urged them to live up to the expectations of the people and the incoming administration of the council for the overall interest of Udung Uko LGA.
The in-coming council helmsman, who reeled out terms of reference to the committee, stated that his overall priority would center on the welfare of the people and the development of physical infrastructure and amenities for the benefit of the electorate.
He urged the committee to liaise effectively with the current leadership of the council for the purpose of fast-tracking a smooth transition process slated for December 7, 2020.
He charged members of the committee to help in stock taking process and documentation of the council assets and liabilities to serve as a yardstick and clear standard to assess the next one hundred days performance of the incoming administration after resumption of office.
Prince Osung, who promised to operate an open door policy, assured that he will run transparent governance for the benefit of the present and future generations at the grassroots.
According to him, the committee should as part of their terms of reference, carryout a comprehensive assessment and documentation of all government property within the council secretariat and elsewhere.
He called on the committee to also make possible recommendations for government comprehensive attention.
Some of the key terms of reference are as follows; to identify and suggest a ‘quick fix’ area that will bring to bear visible results that would make positive difference in the lives of the people in the area within 30 days and 100 days in the life of his administration, to receive hand over document from all departments under government supervision, analyze same document with the mind of identifying gray areas that may pose some challenge(s) for a smooth take-off of the incoming administration.
On the level of damage done by vandals to some key property of government within the council secretariat during previous administrations, the committee is also expected to investigate the remote causes of such development and make useful recommendations for holistic approach to stem the tide, among others.
Also speaking, the outgoing chairman of council, Hon (Elder) Okon Oku, who commended the incoming administration for his lofty ideas to consolidate development in the council, promised to give the committee all the needed support and cooperation.
This, he said, will enable the committee to achieve not only a smooth transition programme, but all other important information to help in the successful documentation of what would remain as a template for every successive administration in the area towards good governance.
The council secretary, Hon. Okokon Ekpe, who represented the executive chairman of council noted, “As the representative of the chairman, the Chairman is fully in support of the setting up of this committee and I will convey the message contained in the terms of reference of the committee to the chairman. The committee will have the entire necessary cooperation. And I know, being in the outgoing government, this is a clear departure from what we use to do.”
The executive chairman further adding that the development was an indication that the incoming administration has a clear and graphic picture of what it intents are and how to tackle all issues of governance as they arise.
In his acceptance speech on behalf of the committee, the chairman, Dr. (Barr) Asuquo Anwana, who spoke in glowing terms about the incoming council leadership for doing a painstaking task of setting a template for a smooth running of governance, said the innovative idea is first of its kind in the history of the local government administration in the area.
While suing for cooperation from the authorities involved, Dr. Anwana maintained that apart from the committee accepting wholeheartedly the onerous responsibility bestowed on them by the leadership of the incoming council administration, they were also comfortable with the terms of reference and promised to put in their very best towards its realization.
