By Nelson Egware
Delta State Governor,vRt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has tasked local government chairmen and councillors across the state to seize the opportunities inherent in the prevalent principle of financial autonomy to drive sustainable grassroots development, tackle insecurity, and improve service delivery to the people.
Speaking at the Delta State Councillors Forum Symposium 2025 held on Wednesday held in Asaba, with the theme “Repositioning the Grassroots: Strengthening Local Governance for Sustainable Development in Nigeria in the Wake of Local Government Autonomy,” the Governor commended the Forum for initiating what he described as “a timely and consequential dialogue at this defining moment of Nigeria’s democracy.”
Governor Oborevwori said the recent Supreme Court judgement granting full financial autonomy to local governments was a constitutional milestone that now removes every excuse for non-performance.
“With this autonomy, it is expected that development at the grassroots will be enhanced and unhindered by political interference or administrative bottlenecks. Chairmen and councillors must now deliver on their mandate without excuses,” the Governor declared.
While commending many councillors for their dedication and the commissioning of projects across the state, he insisted that there was still room for improvement, particularly in tackling poverty, unemployment, environmental decay, and waste management.
On security, Oborevwori reminded council leaders that "safety is a shared responsibility that must begin from the wards. "If councillors and chairmen work closely, they will gather intelligence that will help security agencies respond effectively.
"Councils must be proactive, not reactive,” he said, announcing plans to resume statewide town hall meetings in 2026 to keep the people abreast of what government has done, what it has not done and what it planned to do.
The Governor also addressed issues of councillors’ welfare, clarifying that adjustments to salaries were made in line with Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) regulations following Auditor-General queries, not arbitrary reductions.
He, however, highlighted improvements, including severance benefits now payable in installments before tenure expiration.
On constituency projects, Oborevwori directed Local Government chairmen to always carry councillors along and ensure ward-based projects are executed to reflect true representation.
He urged councils to embrace civility in tax and levy collection by engaging properly trained personnel.
Governor Oborevwori declared the symposium open, urging councillors to remain dedicated to their constitutional responsibilities and uphold the dignity of their office.
“Councilorship is about service, sacrifice, and accountability. It is the bridge between government and the people. This symposium must mark a turning point for grassroots governance in Delta State,” he affirmed.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Delta State Councillors Forum and Leader of Warri South-West Legislative Arm, Mr Samuel Ekpemupolo, described the symposium as “the voice of the grassroots,” stressing that autonomy must translate into greater accountability and visible impact in communities.
He called on the Delta State Government and House of Assembly to align state laws with the Supreme Court’s ruling on four-year tenure for local councils.
Ekpemupolo also called for dignified recognition of councillors as lawmakers at the local level, lamenting that councilorship was being reduced to “a mere empowerment scheme.”
The event featured keynote presentations by the immediate past Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, alongside other development experts, and was attended by political leaders, lawmakers, board members, and representatives of partner organisations.
