Though an official of the Warri-South Local Government council in Delta State declared that it had not spent a kobo on transportation or low-cost housing, yet, the residents of the council area say that the present chairman is the best they have ever had.
This was the unanimous response at a confab organised by Focus Group Discussion researchers on "Making Local Governance Work" project organised on Thursday in the area.
The women who spoke at the meeting also said they are uncertain of exactly how much money is spent on the provision of infrastructure because they had no input in the 2009 budget of the council, but, however, stated that they had faith in Matthew Edema, the council chairman.
"We trust our chairman, because he is a man of God," they chorused.
Participants at the meeting by the Focus Group Discussions are usually not obliged to give their names so as to allow them talk freely about certain shortfalls in their local administration.
What Women Said
One woman said the Warri-South council secretariat, which used to be shabby and a home for miscreants who extort money from visitors looks better now that they are gone and a new wing is undergoing construction. Paying rates and fees is also easier, "We have E-pay; so we just go to the bank and bring the teller here," another woman said.
They said their council officials are quite accessible. A participant said the chairman takes his calls himself, which allows for direct talks with him. She also said feedbacks on the council's activities come through the interaction of the councillors with the electorate.
On the possible occurrence of protests to get the Local Government's attention, one woman said, "Our youths have now understood the principle of dialogue. They don't protest."
They said the chairman's electoral promises are being fulfilled.
"He (Mr. Edema) has built healthcare centres in Irokun, Igbudu, Isibowe, Ogunu, and, Aleruwa," a woman said. "There are adult education centres in churches for women who are shy."
They said council officials "carry us along" in the running of the council's affairs. ‘Ghost-workers' and loopholes former officials used to exploit are gone, theey added. "There is no room for corruption, because of the chairman. Even the civil servants here complain that there is no free money like before."
The women were particularly ecstatic about markets in the area they said are now well taken care of. "The Pesu market is getting a new abattoir, and all the markets have enforced sanitation days," they added.
Out of the seven women chosen at random in the Focus Group Discussion meeting, five of them said the best project for them was the sanitation programme, while the other two voted for the healthcare project.
What An Official Said
There are 19 wards in the Warri-South LGA. The councillor representing Ward 19, Issac Hassa, said within one year, the council repaired roads in Obeji, Swarm Road and Esisi Road. While he agrees they have not provided transportation or housing.
"The dilapidated school building in Morogbo was destroyed (pulled down) and rebuilt," he said.
"The executive projects like the building of King George Hall will generate revenue. All the wards have constituency projects which the councillors supervise to the letter," the councillor added.
Mr. Issac said the contractors for these "constituency projects" are paid directly from the council's purse. Money does not pass through him, he said.
More Accountability
The women agreed that they want a situation where they are invited to future budget meetings. "Maybe the things that we ask from our councillors that we haven't seen, the chairman can explain why they are not done," one of them said.
They also want more roads and women participation in local governance in Warri-South local government, stating that local politics was too male dominated.
The local government is the second council visited by the Orderly Society Trust's researchers in Delta State. They had earlier visited the Ethiope-West LGA.
According to the details of local government revenue allocation from the Federal Ministry of finance, Warri-South got about N76m for the month of March, 2009.