Adebayo Adenrele
Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has mandated Chairmen of Local Government and Local Council Development areas in the state to start holding security council meetings as part of efforts to tackle insecurity headlong in their various jurisdictions.
Oyebanji gave the directive on Wednesday during a security meeting with all council chairmen and heads of security agencies in the state.
The Governor, who said he had reports that previous set of council chairmen did not pay attention to the statutory security council meetings, said going forward the meetings must hold at least once monthly , adding that all critical stakeholders in the security architecture in their respective council areas must be in attendance.
Governor Oyebanji said any council chairman that fails to hold the security meeting would forfeit the security vote for the month. This is to show the importance the administration attach to security at the local level, which is always in focus at the local government security council meetings.
The security meeting, according to the Governor, should also include representatives of the state government, adding that reports of the meetings should be submitted regularly to his office for effective scrutiny and necessary action.
The Governor charged the council chairmen to work with relevant security agencies and the traditional institution in ensuring security of lives and properties of the people in their areas.
Also at the meeting were the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chairman in the state, Barr. Paul Omotoso, Commissioner for Local Government, Chief Olabode, Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Gen. Ebenezer Ogundana (rtd.), Special Adviser to the Governor on Political and Inter-party Affairs, Chief Jide Awe; Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode; Director General Homeland Intelligence Agency, Dotun Adetuberu, Director General Community Communications, Mary Oso Omotoso: and all heads of security agencies in the state.
