Jigawa gov finds LG chairmen absent during surprise secretariat visits

Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi has declared a strong stance against truancy after discovering widespread absenteeism among local government chairmen and senior officials during unannounced visits to secretariats on Tuesday. The governor had previously warned the 27 local government chairmen, sworn in during 2024, against administering their councils from outside their offices.

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If leaders are not in office, who will attend to official duties?

During his surprise inspections, Namadi reportedly found offices empty, with most chairmen and top management staff conspicuously absent. He expressed deep dismay, describing the situation as "undemocratic and unacceptable." The governor stressed that elected local government chairmen are meant to serve the people directly and cannot govern effectively through virtual means or by proxy.

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Council chairmen are the engine room of local government administration, and governance at the third tier will remain paralysed if they fail to show up regularly in their offices.

"If leaders are not in office, who will attend to official duties?" the governor questioned. He emphasized that local government councils are the "engine room" of administration and that governance at this level will remain paralyzed if officials fail to show up regularly. Namadi reiterated that local government is the closest tier to the people and that chairmen must remain on the ground to understand and address the community's challenges.

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Local government councils are the closest government to the grassroots. The chairmen must remain on ground and listen to the demands of the people for necessary action.

Governor Namadi vowed that his administration would no longer tolerate such behavior. "We will not tolerate this undemocratic behaviour and will take necessary action to tackle it," he stated. He announced plans to summon all 27 council chairmen for a meeting to issue a stern warning against unnecessary travels outside their local government areas. The governor visited Kiyawa, Jahun, Miga, Kafin Hausa, Auyo, and Hadejia local governments during his tour.

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We will not tolerate this undemocratic behaviour and will take necessary action to tackle it.