Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has charged the newly appointed sole administrators of the state’s 23 Local Government Areas to prioritise public welfare and ensure prudent use of public funds.

He gave the charge during a meeting with the council heads at the Government House in Port Harcourt on Friday.

Ibas stressed the importance of accountability and transparency, warning that his administration would not tolerate financial recklessness, abuse of office, or misuse of public resources.

He directed the administrators to focus on key areas including sanitation, environmental management, primary healthcare, local government staff welfare, primary education, and youth engagement.

“These will serve as the benchmarks for assessing your performance,” he said.

The administrator reminded them of their responsibility to manage council affairs with integrity and dedication to the people’s welfare.

He emphasised that Rivers residents deserved to see how public funds were being used and expected proper value in return.

Ibas pledged that mechanisms would be introduced to monitor compliance with due process and enforce a zero-tolerance stance on financial misconduct across all councils.

He urged the administrators to live up to their responsibilities, restore peace and stability, and support efforts to reinstate democratic governance in the state.