Benue govt expresses worry over dwindling Federal allocations to LGAs

Special Adviser Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ken Achabo, has expressed worry at the continuous dwindling allocation to the Local Governments in the State and called on the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission to effect an upward review of the revenue sharing formula to enable Local Governments in the State earn more.

Hon. Achabo who raised this concern on Monday while presiding over the monthly State and Local Governments Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC, meeting noted that with the large amount of non-oil mineral deposits across the twenty three Local Government Areas, Benue State was strategically placed to earn more from the Federation Account and urged the Council Chairmen to sustain the prioritization of payment of Staff salaries, pensions and gratuity and to shun the temptation of awarding contracts arbitrarily without financial backing saying with the trickle of funds to the Local Governments, it behoves the Chairmen to make the most of a cashtrapped financial situation.

He called on the Chairmen to effectively mobilize their people to avail themselves for the ongoing free Covid-19 vaccination to avoid a fresh outbreak of the dreaded pandemic and announced that the Executive Governor of the State, His Excellency Samuel Ortom, has graciously approved the official commissioning of the newly constructed Tor TIV palace on April 8 this year saying work on the rehabilitation of the Palace of the Och’Idoma would commence very soon and hailed the contributions of the Chairmen which has necessitated the success in that regard.

Responding, Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Benue State , and Executive Chairman of Guma Local Government Council, Hon. Caleb Aba, expressed delight at the completion of the New Tor Tiv palace despite the paucity of funds in the State currently and assured on behalf of the Council Chairmen, to implement resolutions arrived at the meeting to the latter.

Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Finance, Mr. Frank Usa Adi, had earlier led officials of the State Community and Social Development Agency to the meeting to solicit partnership with the Council Chairmen to execute micro projects across their Local Governments Areas at a minimal cost.

The meeting also welcomed the acting Chairman of Vandeikya Local Government, Barr. Alex, who until his appointment was the deputy Chairman of the Council. He assumed the position following the three Months suspension of the Chairman of the Council, Hon. Mrs. Kukase Garba.