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By Amos Odhe, Yenagoa
The deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawerence Ewhrudjakpo, has called on relevant government agencies and institutions to review the existing local government administrative structure, with a view to unbundling the works department in the various councils.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo made the call on Tuesday when he granted audience to the Bayelsa State chapter of the National Council of Local Government Directors of Works, Transport, Housing, Lands, and Survey at his office in Government House, Yenagoa.
According to a statement by his senior special assistant on Media, Mr Doubara Atasi, the deputy governor described the current structure of the works department of the councils as unwieldy and over-burdened by too many functions.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo pointed out that a situation where one department alone executes works, transport, lands, housing and survey functions, hinders performance and productivity.
To foster efficiency and effective service delivery in the local government council’s, he therefore suggested that the works department should be split into Works and Transport while Lands, Housing and Survey also stand as an independent department.
Senator Ewhrudjakpo equally pointed out that the unbundling of the works department would also promote specialization and division of labour at the third tier of government, which is currently plagued by myriads of operational challenges.
The deputy governor, who advised the the directors of Works in the eight local government councils to liaise with their various heads to make their offices more functional, also directed them to take necessary steps to secure public lands acquired for primary schools in their domains.
Responding to the requests made by the delegation, he promised to carefully look into their demands, adding that necessary actions would taken based on merit.
His words: “For me, the first thing to really look at, is the combination of departments we have created. Are they really working? Can they function? Why do we have works, transport, housing, land and survey? For me, it is too humongous, unhealthy and untidy.”
” I don’t see how a department can function when you put almost about six bodies to work under one roof. As far as I am concerned, that is overburdening. It doesn’t make for specialization, division of labor and efficiency in service delivery.
“I think the right thing is for a comprehensive review of the local government system. I will rather suggest the Works department is split into Works and Transport Department, and Department of Lands, Housing and Survey to make for a better local administrative structure.”
Earlier, the chairman of the Bayelsa Chapter of the National Council of Local Government Directors of Works, Transport, Housing, Lands, and Survey, Mr. Ogori Peter, explained that the directors of Works across the eight local government councils were being denied their rights and privileges as co-equals with the Heads of LGAs in terms of ranking and grade.
Mr Ogori, who doubles as the Director of Works in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government, appealed to the state government to consider appointing Directors of Works as Heads of councils by virtue of ranking and seniority.
This, he said, would give them a true sense of belonging as critical stakeholders that are contributing meaningfully to ithe nfrastructural development of the local government areas.