Benue grants financial autonomy to LGs

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has granted full financial autonomy to the state’s 23 LGAs.

Gov Alia disclosed this Tuesday at the opening of a two-day workshop organised by the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in conjunction with Timarage Nigeria Limited, for chairmen and members of the local government interim executives in the state.

The governor said his administration had also mapped out strategic projects and programmes for execution and implementation in all the LGAs.

He said by the time the projects and programmes were completed the chequered history of the rural areas in the state would be completely reversed.

Alia explained that, “I am happy to state that my administration has given its full blessing to the autonomy of our local governments. Funds due to the local governments will be prompt. We are, therefore, committed to the growth and development of the system and have outlined adequate plans to open up the rural areas to enable rural economies to thrive.”

Alia, therefore, appealed to all the LG committees to intensify efforts towards increasing their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to boost their capacity to provide for the welfare of their people.

The governor urged the council chairmen to ensure they remained close to their people and to also uphold accountability, integrity and transparency in their work.