BY Ahmad Sahabi
The Enugu government says it will support LGAs with 60 percent funding for execution of capital projects.
The state government said this initiative will aid the development of the grassroots.
Chidiebere Onyia, secretary to the state government (SSG), spoke on Monday after a meeting of the Enugu State Economic Planning Commission.
The SSG said the move seeks to boost the rural economy and create jobs for teeming youths in the state.
“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,” Onyia said.
“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 per cent 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.
“But this is for specific, agreed projects between the state and the local governments.”
On his part, Sydney Edeh, chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Enugu state chapter, commended Peter Mbah, governor of the state, for increasing funds of LGAs.
He said the increase will help in implementing projects that will touch the lives of the people.
“I think the governor has decided to come to our rescue, because we at 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 per cent 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.”
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