By Dahiru Suleiman, Dutse

Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has warned local government Chairmen’s to discard the habits of unusual absenteeism, noting that they were elected to serve the people and cannot run the affairs of their council’s in proxy.

He gave the warning while speaking to journalists shortly after paying an unscheduled visit to some local government secretariats, where he found that all the Council Chairmen’s and senior staff of the Council’s visited were not present in their respective offices.

Governor Namadi expressed dismay at the condition in which he found the local government secretariats, adding that if leaders are not in office, then who will stay to attend to official duties?

According to him, the council chairmen are the drivers of council administration, and nothing can run smoothly if they do not attend office regularly.

Governor Namadi further stated that he would summon all the council chairmen for a meeting and read the riot act to them against unnecessary travel outside their local government areas.

“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. From there, we expect to know challenges that are beyond the councils’ capacity,” he said.

“So, if chairmen are always absent, how can they discharge the responsibilities placed on their shoulders by the teeming electorates? We will not tolerate this undemocratic behaviour and will take necessary action to tackle it,” Governor Namadi stated.

It could be recalled that during the swearing-in of the 27 local government chairmen in 2025, Governor Namadi had warned them against such a tradition of absenteeism or administering the council from outside the secretariat, and promised to take action against any chairman found with such a habit.

Amongst the Council’s visited by the Governor Namadi includes Hadejia,  Jahun,  Miga, Kafin- Hausa and Auyo Council respectively.