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By Abdulmalik Suleiman.
It is over a year ago that Kogi State governor, Alh Yahaya Bello grants financial autonomy to all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state in less than one month after assuming office, as the fourth executive governor of Kogi state.
The Governor who frowned at previous administration practices in the state, where officials of the state indiscriminately deducts from the council allocations by the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, said “the state laws could not override the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. He described arbitrary deductions from the LGAs allocations as illegal and unconstitutional.
Ever since then, that singular action taken by the governor has benefitted the people at the grassroots, as numerous Projects activities are ongoing across the state by the Local government administrators in the following areas;
- Roads construction and clearing
- Provision of portable water
- Education
- Agriculture
- Security
- Empowerment
- Prompt payment of salary and many others
The autonomy has certainly benefitted the people at the grassroots level as dividend of democracy that long eluded the people are been delivered by various Local government arisen from the autonomy granted by governor Bello.
Only recently, some local government has embarked on laudable projects among them is Dekina Local government. The Administrator, Hon. Kabir commissioned a magnificent Biraidu district town hall building, in addition, several rural feeders road like Atanegoma-Anyingba are been open up to link the entire local government with the headquarters, thereby easing farmers difficulty in getting farm produce to the urban areas.
In Okene Local government area, the synergy between the administrator Mal. Abdulrazaq Muhammed and the state government to get rids of criminals and terrorists has yielded tremendous results and must be commendable. The entire Central senatorial district area that use to be a safe heaven for criminals of various grades has been freed and liberated, the people are now going about there normal businesses without fear of insecurity.
Lokoja Local government administrator has wonderfully done well in the areas of Provision of portable water via borehole drilling, Security and Education. The Administrator, Alh Shiru Lawal has taking water to almost all the wards within Lokoja metropolis. He has also provides independent power generators to the various borehole centers to compliments the Abuja Electricity Commission which has been epileptic for sometime now in the capital town.
In the area of Education and Security Hon Shiru as also excelled.
The story is the same in Ijumu Local government area of the state where the Administrator, Alh Taofiq Isa who double as the ALGON chairman is greatly providing dividends of democracy to his people. Some roads that were hitherto not accessible are been open up in the entire area. His intervention in the educational sector is second to none.
Another administrator which is greatly impacting on his people is Hon Barr. Tanko Muhammed of Kogi Local government, he has ongoing projects all over the eleven wards that made up Koton Karfe. Only last month, His Excellency Alh Yahaya Bello was his guest during the commission of international cattle market at Girinya. Only last month, Barr Tanko made history by organising the most successful finishing festival in Koto tag ” Igu Fishing festival”, the first of its kind in the history of the Local government.
The administrator has use his development strides to unite the various factions in the entire local government. All leaders and stakeholders are all in agreement with the leadership quality of Hon Tanko.
However, all these are achievable by the various administrators, due to the tireless cooperation and timely guidance by the Adviser in charge of the Ministry, Hon Engr. Abubakar Ohere. He makes sure that the governor’s directive is not disobeyed at local level.
Engr. Abubakar leadership quality at the ministry has greatly reshaped and reposition the ministry for greater services delivery. Ohere’s administrative skill as freed the ministry of corruption tendency inline with the new direction policy of governor Bello’s administration, which has spilled to the various local government areas in the state.
A new magnificent edifice which is to serve as the headquarters of the Ministry has been completed and ready to be commission by His Excellency on May 29th. As the ministry lack a befitting offices for his officials.
Addressing reporters last week in his office, Engr. Ohere said, arrangements has been concluded to build massive classroom blocks across the various local government areas tag GYB Model Schools. He commended the the foresight of the state governor in freeing the local council and giving it true independency devoid of state interference.
There is no gainsaying that, in Nigeria today, Local government areas in kogi state is among those embarking on projects that has directs bearing on its people as a results of governor of Gov Bello open minded policy in the state which has long entrenched transparency in the entire system inline with the new direction policy of the present administration.
– Abdulmalik Suleiman
SSA to Gov. Bello on Minis of Local Govt & Chieftaincy Affairs, contribute this piece from Lokoja.
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