To hasten development at the grass-roots level, particularly in agriculture, agro-allied industrialization, and vital infrastructure, the administration of Enugu State has announced that it will increase financing for development projects by local government councils in the state by 60%.
After a meeting of the Enugu State Economic Planning Commission on Monday at the Government House, Enugu, the government announced its plans to improve the economy in rural areas and provide employment opportunities for the city’s large youth population.
Secretary to the State Government Prof. Chidiebere Onyia told reporters at Government House after a meeting with the council chairmen that the Mbah administration wanted to forge a progressive partnership with the local governments by providing marching funds for certain projects that fit with the state government’s economic agenda
According to the SSG, one of the main goals of the decision was to stimulate agro-allied processing zones and a land bank of 300,000 hectares for commercial farming, as well as to open up rural areas to economic development activities in the sphere of agriculture and agro-allied industrialization.
Our strategy calls for local governments to visit residents in their own neighborhoods. The local governments have decided to open up the woodland areas that could be used as criminal hideouts.
But the most important thing is that they will increase rural economic activity and open it up for economic activity, creating new job prospects for our overpopulation of young people.
The state contributes 60% and the municipalities contribute 40%, thus the total is 100%. So, the state government will put in an additional 60% of whatever they bring for those capital projects. However, the SSG clarified that this was only for “agreed upon projects” between the state and the local governments.
Meanwhile, Hon. Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Enugu State chapter, commended the Governor Mbah administration for the counterpart funding and said the partnership with the state government would help in the funding of priority projects that touch the lives of the people while also promoting transparency, accountability, and traceability in the management of local government funds by the council areas.
Since the local government sector has been experiencing difficulties implementing capital projects, I believe the governor has chosen to come to our aid.
Now that the government is willing to cover 60% of the cost of authorized projects, not only will more projects be carried out, but those that are carried out will be of a higher quality, which will ultimately benefit rural communities and economies.
Transparency, traceability, and accountability in our actions are of paramount importance. Thus, we accept the necessity of a successful relationship.
“As ALGON, we have assured the governor of our commitment and cooperation to make sure we move our state forward,” he continued.
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