The Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has approved the establishment of a Local Government Stakeholders Committee to fashion out new strategies for managing local government revenues in view of dwindling federal allocation.
Governor Ahmed announced the establishment of the committee today during a meeting attended by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Isiaka Gold, Head of Service, Haji Zara Umar, chairmen of the 16 local government councils, labour leaders, officials of the Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs ministry, Local Government Directors of Personnel Management and Treasurers at Government House, Ilorin.
The Committee’s mandate, according to Alhaji Ahmed, is to identify fresh strategies for managing and distributing local government revenue to ensure that the timely payment of local government workers and other obligations within the ambits of the law, the specific needs of each council as well as available resources, since the allocation to all levels of governments, including local government councils, is unlikely to improve in the nearest future.
The Local Government Stakeholders Committee, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, is headed by the State Accountant General and comprises the chairmen of the 16 local government Councils, and their Directors of Personnel Management, Treasurers, Labour Unions and Representatives of the Local Government Service Commission. Others are representatives of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, and the Association of Local Government Councils of Nigeria (ALGON). The Committee has one-week to submit its report.
In another development, the Kwara State Government and the Chairmen of Ilorin West, Ilorin East, Ilorin South, Moro and Ifelodun Local Government Councils have agreed to establish dump sites in the respective councils as part of government efforts deal with the refuse disposal in Ilorin, the state capital.
Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who announced this today in Ilorin following a meeting with the chairmen of local government councils said the decision became necessary in view of the increasing population in the state and consequent escalation in refuse generation in the state capital.
Alhaji Ahmed said the refuse problems witnessed in the Ilorin metropolis in recent times was caused by challenges with the communities around existing state dump sites and gave an assurance the problem will soon be resolved. He advised the chairmen of the six local government councils to consult with stakeholders in the proposed communities before choosing the new dumpsites to ensure their cooperation and understanding. Governor Ahmed assured that the new sites will not pose any health or other threats to residents of the affected neighbouring communities.