Oshana Governor Hofni Iipinge has called for integrity and accountability in service delivery from leaders in his region, urging them to be professional and deliver quality service to the people.

He made the remarks while addressing the start-of-the-year consultations with regional and local authority councillors at Oshakati in the Oshana Region.

Iipinge said leaders must be defined by professionalism, accountability and effective governance.

He also urged them to listen to community concerns, create space for dialogue, and ensure citizens are part of the decision-making process.

The governor stressed that public resources are sacred, and every dollar lost through negligence or misuse denies people essential public services.

He further called on councillors to confront persistent inequality and ensure development is inclusive, particularly for women, youth, and people with disabilities.

Iipinge noted that youth unemployment remains a major challenge, adding that young people are not asking for charity but for opportunities.

He therefore encouraged leaders to strengthen youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and skill development so that young people become job creators rather than job seekers.

The governor also warned that delays in project implementation and the return of unspent funds to the treasury deprive communities of much-needed development opportunities and will not be tolerated in the region.