THE newly elected 23 Local Government Council Chairmen in the last Saturday Delta State Local Government council polls, were, yesterday, sworn-in by Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan.

He tasked them to judiciously use public funds to improve the living condition of the people.

Those sworn-in by the governor were Baro Henry, Uvwie; Kenneth Ibru, Ughelli North; Paul Etaiga, Ughelli South; Mr. Mofe Edema, Warri South; Chucks Obusom, Oshimili South; Benedicta Osakwuni, Ukwuani, George Ekpemukpolo Warri South-West, and Louise Ndukwe. Oshimili North

Also sworn-in were Isaac Anwuzia, Aniocha South; Ifeanyi Osakwe, Ndokwa West; Solomon Kpomah, Udu; Godwin Ejeyere, Okpe; Fredrick Ofunne, Ika South; Oluwole Karitimi, Bomadi; Francis Maku, Warri North; Ebikeme Clark, Burutu; Francis Ebonka, Ika North-East; Chucks Oseme, Aniocha North; Odebala Ejaife, Sapele; Emmanuel Egbabor, Isoko North; Malik Itiako Ikpokpo, Isoko South; Mrs. Josephine Abeki, Patani, and Solomon Golly Ethiope West.

Speaking during the ceremony at the Cenotaph, Asaba, Uduaghan said the ceremony was the flag-off of democracy at the grassroots, lamenting that the election was delayed for three years due to legal issues over the constitution of the State Independent Electoral Commission, DSIEC.

While commending DSIEC and security agents for the conduct of the election as well as congratulating the newly elected council chairmen, he expressed hope that DSIEC would soon conduct the election in Ndokwa East and the run up election in Ethiope East.

The governor however decried the delay in the distribution of election materials in some areas and appealed to the people to wait for election materials at the polling units rather than go to DSIEC office or police station.

Uduaghan warned the new council chairmen against abandoning projects initiated by their predecessors, urging them to fast track development in the communities and make their elections blessings to the people.

He also told them to key into the Delta Beyond Oil initiative of the state government and enjoined the council chairmen to reside in their local government headquarters to make themselves accessible to their people and ensure peace and security in their respective council areas.

While appealing to the council chairmen not to discriminate against anybody, he insisted that they were elected to serve the entire council area.