From Rabiu Doma; Nasarawa
The Nasarawa state Governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has opened a can of worms over the financial viability of the third tier of Government in the state. Al-Makura made the disclosure while addressing the crème de ‘la crème at a peace summit held at the seat of power along Shendam road.
The Governor identified the woos of the current administration – as rested on the implementation of the new minimum wage of N18,000,which he said was a law promulgated by the federal Government, adding that the Local Government in the state are engendered species to the existence of the baby state.
“The efficacies of Local Government will not be realized due to the distressed situation they are facing, not to talk of capital projects but the settlement of staff salary and emolument is herculean task faced by our Local Government system,” said the Governor.
“Our Local Governments are no longer viable to pay staff salary and emolument, He however aver that thirteen (13) Local Governments and Development Area out of the existing thirteen Local Government and Eighteen (18) Development Areas are not capable to settled workers’ salaries and emolument due to impoverishment”.
The state Governor further buttressed that salaries of some Local Government and Development Areas were augmented from the coffers of state/Local Government joint account, in his words, “Since I came on board ,no single penny was taken from the reserve of Local Government councils.
In the last two (2) years in office, my administration embarked on the construction of fifteen (15) kilometer rural roads cut across the length and breadth of the existing Local Governments and Development Areas.
The enthusiastic Governor who was full of hopes stated that the Government of Nasarawa state has begun implementation of the master plan of the state through introduction of land reforms.
Adding that land reforms will go a long way in augmenting the insufficient resources accrued to the state from the federal grant – adding that the aim of constructing a befitting office to Nasarawa Geographic Information System (NAGIS) is to complement the lean resources of the state through boasting revenue generation from land.
Governor Al-Makura averred that Nasarawa state will take the advantage of it nearness to the nation’s capital. With high hopes, he asserted that the state will witness a lot of change.
