Own Gov’t programmes-CAO tells community
The Chief Administrative Officer Apac, Andrew Leru has urged locals to own the inputs given to them under government development programmes to enhance sustainability.
While addressing farmers of Apac subcounty recently, Leru urged communities to consider changing their negative attitude towards government projects and instead own them.
He cited development programmes like Community Demand Driven (CDD), PRDP, NUSAF2, NAADS, UPE and School Facilitation Grants (SFG).
Leru noted that the lack of sense of ownership among the community would yield implementation of development activities futile.  “Jealously guard NAADS inputs, water sources, among others, do not just look on as they get wasted or vandalized,”he said.
More than one hundred improved breed goats were given to farmers under the programme.“Be informed that some stakeholders will follow you in your respective homes to monitor the performance of the inputs received,” he said.
Leru cited school buildings, and health units structures going for years without maintenance while doors and roofs fly off the structures without anybody bothering to repair but people instead keep lamenting of lack of development activities in their areas.
Leru advised the community to willingly contribute money towards operations and maintenance of structures and projects given to them by the district or development partners.
He lauded subcounty NAADs  coordinators  and farmers’associations for being transparent and accountable in procuring inputs.
The General noted that bad water sources were causes of communicable diseases in our society and that there is a dire need to create environmental and sanitation awareness among the community so that people avoid erecting latrines near water sources.
He added that that the latrine and functional clean water sources coverage standing at 49.9% and 68% respectively
Leru added that it’s shocking to learn that there are still several households without toilets and the family members defecate in bushes, risking their lives.
Leru called for observance of value for money in all facilities constructed with objective reports on progress of such projects being undertaken.
Senior Community development Officer, Nicholas Akwang noted that the committee is doing much in coordinating planning and implementation of water and sanitation activities in the district.
Akwang noted that there is much plan to ensure serious advocacy on water usage and sensitize them on the benefits of maintain such facilities in order to effectively sustain the investments.

Public officers warned against late coming, absenteeism
     
APAC Chief Administrative Officer, Andrew Leru has cautioned civil servants against absenteeism saying the practice is another form of corruption and indiscipline.
While addressing the District Technical Planning meeting at Planning Unit Hall,  Leru cautioned that absenting from duty would deny services to the public. “Civil servants hold offices in public trust hence ensure vibrant and efficient service delivery to the community,” he said.
Leru cited rampant attendance of burials as a serious hindrance of service delivery.  “How do you bury all the dead ones, spare some time for office works,” he said.
He added that Public Service Ministry had disbursed circulars to public offices showing concern on the vice.   He advised public officers to seek permission of absence from office from immediate supervisors.
“Otherwise permission must not be unreasonably denied or granted,” he cautioned.  He encouraged officers to effectively account for public resources or be denied further accessibility.
He noted that the district authority is committed to strengthen the ability of departments to plan and manage resources in collaboration with communities for service delivery. He urged public officers to ensure transparent and accountable use of public funds as a basis of poverty eradication and improved service delivery in the area.
Leru noted that strengthening participatory planning processes and transparency through sensitization meetings would facilitate interface between the subcounties and communities to demand for better services and accountability.
Leru cautioned officers against unnecessary fights over scare resources in their departments since the practice hampers development efforts in the area. “We expect every public officer to accomplish planned activities on time. Desist from engaging in behavior on conduct that disrupts service delivery,” he said.
He advised civil servants to observe ethical obligations and codes of conduct specific to each profession.
By Patrick Opio