The Enugu State Government on Monday disclosed plan to augment funding for development projects by Local Government councils in the state to the tune of 60 per cent so as to speed up grassroots development especially in the areas of agriculture, agro-allied industrialization and other critical infrastructure.
Addressing newsmen after a meeting with the Enugu State Economic Planning Commission at the Government House Enugu, the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia revealed the goal is targeted at rural development and job creation for the youths.
Prof. Onyia further reveals that while the state aims to open up the rural areas to economic development activities on agriculture and agro-allied industrialization while targeting a land bank of not less than 300,000 hectares for commercial farming.
The partnership with the third tier of government the SSG said must align with economic agenda of the state government;
“It is a partnership where the state government brings 60 per cent of local governments’ 40 per cent. So, whatever they bring for those capital projects, the state government will match it to the tune of 60 per cent. But this is for specific, agreed projects between the state and the local governments,” the SSG disclosed.
“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.”
Commending the State and Local Government partnership in rural development, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Enugu State chapter, Sydney Okechukwu Edeh, said the partnership will not only touch lives of the masses as priority projects will be identified and addressed but also promote transparency, accountability and traceability in the management of local government funds by the council areas.
“The Governor has decided to come to our rescue, because we at the local government sector have been having series of problems trying to execute capital projects,” Chairman ALGON Enugu chapter disclosed.
“However, 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,” the Chairman reiterates.
“As ALGON, we have assured the governor of our commitment and cooperation to make sure we move our state forward.”
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