MBA’S ADMINISTRATION TO AUGMENT FUNDING OF LGA’S CAPITAL PROJECTS BY 60%  

BY EMMANUEL AMOKE CHIDERA

The Mba administration through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia after a meeting of the Enugu State Economic Planning Commission at the Government House, Enugu, on Monday, revealed it will augment funding for development projects by local government councils in the state to the tune of 60 percent. This decision aims at accelerating grassroots development, especially in the areas of agriculture, agro-allied industrialization and critical infrastructure.

Addressing the Government House correspondents shortly after the meeting attended by the council chairmen, Prof. Onyia said:

“What we are planning to do is that the local governments are going to go into their communities. All the forest areas that may be locations for criminality, the local governments have agreed that they are going to open the areas,”

“But the key thing is that they are going to enhance the economic activities in the rural area and open it up for economic activities to provide job opportunities for our teeming youths.

“It is a partnership where the state government brings 60 percent of local governments’ 40 percent. So, whatever they bring for those capital projects, the state government will match it to the tune of 60 percent.

Meanwhile, responding to the development, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Enugu State chapter, Hon. Sydney Okechukwu Edeh commended the Governor Mbah administration for the counterpart funding. He stated that this partnership with the state government would play a crucial role in financing essential projects that directly benefit the residents. Additionally, he emphasized that it would enhance transparency, and accountability in managing local government finances across the council areas.

“I think the governor has decided to come to our rescue because we in the local government sector have been having a series of problems trying to execute capital projects,” Edeh said.

“But with the state now offering to take up 60 percent of the cost of approved projects, we will now be encouraged to not only execute so many projects, but also highly qualitative projects to the benefits of the rural communities and economies.

“The most important thing is that there is going to be transparency, traceability and accountability in what we are doing. So it is a partnership that must work, and we are good with it.

“As ALGON, we have assured the governor of our commitment and cooperation to make sure we move our state forward.”