MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo has announced that the Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority (OCIA) under the Ogoni self-government will be self-funded for 30 days.
The funding plan is to allow for a smooth transition from the current local government system to OCIA at the end of ongoing consultations.
The self-funding decision was reached on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the joint inauguration session of elected representatives of OCIA at Teyork District Hall Council in the Bori National Territory of Ogoni.
It was attended by MOSOP national officers, traditional rulers, MOSOP affiliate presidents and members of MOSOP Peace and Security Council.
Diigbo said many of the operators of the current local government system have indicated their willingness to cooperate and to also become part of the Ogoni self-government.
272 City Hall Councils under the Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority are to begin functioning as from the 13th of August, 2012.
The councils are to meet three times in a week.
Each village council is authorized to elect officers; mainly traditional rulers to preside over each village native court.
Seventeen administrative and development agencies, including those of education, environment, employment, health, security and human rights that were earlier inaugurated were authorized to immediately begin operations.
Recommendations for vacant positions are to originate from the village councils of the applicants to the district elected representatives for screening and approval.
The joint session also resolved that all the respective agencies of the Ogoni Central Indigenous Authority (OCIA) must open offices donated to them and commence operations as from the week of August 13 -18.
President of the Council of Ogoni Churches, Sir Mike Ibira heads the transitional committee, while MOSOP Secretary General, Hon. Dum Ade John Budam is Interim Coordinator of all the agencies, while the Electoral Commission boss and former Chair of the referendum Committee, Hon Madam Christiana Wiko serves as the interim administrator of OCIA.
