The federal government has called on local government areas in the country to be centers of opportunity for economic growth and development.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, made the clarion call during a courtesy call on him by the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Monday in Abuja.
Bagudu expressed the conviction that the country has the capacity to develop like China whose economy has been expanding at astronomical rate by experiencing high gross domestic product (GDP) and strong currency appreciation.
In a press statement signed by the director of information and public relations of the ministry, Mrs. Osagie Jacob J.I, the minister urged the local government councils to take advantage of the landmark judgement on financial autonomy to develop their communities in their areas of comparative advantage as this is one of the steps to make governance at the local level better.
According to him, “We have 8,809 Wards in the country, we are willing to support them in what they can do better, and we will record overheating as it was experienced in China. We can do better, as God has blessed this country.”
Earlier, the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, noted that the objective of the visit was to build on existing relationships and synergise with the ministry, bearing in mind the mandate of the ministry in the preparation and coordination of budget and development plans for the healthy socio-economic growth of the nation.
He welcomed the landmark judgement of the Supreme Court granting financial autonomy to the 774 local governments, noting that a new chapter will soon commence at the local governments that have been in comatose.
Hon Lawal said ALGON, the umbrella body of local government areas, is committed to delivering on the initiatives of the federal government as LGCs are the agents of government that drive the initiatives of government at the state level and as such needs funds to function at that level.
