"Return home" - Borno governor pleads with monarchs of communities liberated from Boko Haram -

The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has directed the Shehu of Dikwa, Abba Shehu Masta and that of Bama, Umar Ibn El-Kanemi, to return home following return of peace in their domain.

Zulum gave the directive in Maiduguri at a meeting with Local Government Chairmen, officials of the Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and officials of the state Local Government Service Commission.

Mr Ndahi Sawa, the Director of Press, Government House, Maiduguri, made the disclosure in a statement on Wednesday.

The governor asserted that the relocation would help to fast track resettlement and restoration of civil authorities in communities liberated from the Boko Haram insurgents.

Zulum also directed the commission and board to order teachers and workers to relocate to their respective duty posts across the state.

‘‘The secretary to the state government should write to the Shehu of Dikwa and that of Bama, as custodians of the people, culture, tradition and religious values, to relocate to their respective emirates alongside district heads and title holders whose responsibilities are critical to the affairs of the councils.

“The relocation of traditional rulers, local government staff and teachers is critical to the people residing at the grassroots.

‘‘If displaced persons could return to their homes; I see no reason why traditional rulers and council officials could not do so.

‘‘We have reached a stage where we must take our destiny in our hands,’’ Zulum said.

He urged the board and commission to ensure compliance with the directive and evolve effective monitoring system to check truancy and indiscipline among workers.

The governor said the government would set up Staff Verification Committee to verify local government workers, noting that government would continue to pay salaries until the exercise is concluded.

The governor warned local government officials against arbitrary recruitment of workers without clearance from the state government.

The Shehu of Dikwa, Abba Shehu Masta; and his counterpart of Bama, Umar Ibn El-Kanemi, relocated to Maiduguri after being sacked by elements at the peak of Boko Haram insurgency in 2012.

Similarly, local government workers had been operating from the state capital in spite of the resettlement of displaced persons in the affected communities in the past one year.