The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has sworn in the newly elected Chairmen of six Area Councils and their Councillors on Tuesday, 14 June, in Abuja.
The swearing-in was in compliance with a recent court order directing the Minister to swear them in.
Recall that protesters have taken to the streets in Abuja to protest the tenure extension of six area councils’ chairmen and councillors.
The chairmen and councillors’ terms in office had elapsed on Thursday, 19 May, and the newly-elected officials were supposed to be sworn in, but the FCT minister cited a court judgement and extended the officials’ tenure by one year.
However, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Kubwa district Abuja, under Justice Mohammed Ibrahim, set aside the judgment given in favour of tenure elongation for the immediate past chairmen and their councillors.
The court consequently ordered the immediate swearing-in of the newly elected chairmen and their councillors.
While addressing the Chairmen, Bello urged them to focus on good administration to meet the desires and aspirations of the people.
The Oath of Office was administered to the Chairmen and their vice by the Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Hussaini Yusuf, who was represented by Justice Suleiman Belgore.
The minister also urged them to follow the Oath of Office, the Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Constitution, and the FCT’s norms and regulations.
According to the Minister: “The time of electioneering campaign is over. Now it is time to face and focus on good governance to ensure that electorate enjoys more dividends of democracy in the territory.
”You should accord priority attention to Primary Health Care (PHC) services; sanitation primary education and other basic social amenities,” Bello said.
Earlier, the chairmen, while taking their Oath of Office pledged to defend the constitution of Nigeria and abide by the rules and regulations guiding the running of FCT without any fear or favour.
They also vowed to govern in fairness, devoid of discrimination against all residents, irrespective of political, ethnic or religious affiliations, even as they promised to discharge their duties to the best of their abilities in honesty and integrity.
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