THE BENUE NGO Network (BENGONET) has urged the Federal Government to ensure full implementation of local government autonomy in states to enable local government areas (LGAs) to execute projects that would impact the lives of people at the grassroots.
The chairman of BENGONET, Mr Laz Mom, made the call at a stakeholders meeting on Friday in Makurdi. Mom, who was represented by Mr Victor Eboh, a lawyer, said that by implementing the LG autonomy, money meant for the development of local government areas would be used judiciously.
The chairman stated with the autonomy, local governments would be able to meet their needs in different sectors.
“BENGONET is rolling out a project seeking a minimum of 5 per cent budgetary allocation from three local government areas in Benue: Makurdi, Otukpo and Kwande LGAs to improve functionality of five grassroots Primary Healthcare (PHC) through gender-responsive budgeting advocacy.
“These three local government areas would be a starting point, and we would monitor the success rate before expanding to other local government areas.
“The project is also aimed at establishing alternative funding for Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) services in response to the suspension of foreign aid by the U.S. government.
“The project team would also conduct a stakeholder mapping where it would identify 30 key women leaders across the three project local government areas, which would be 10 persons per local government based on their leadership role in the communities.
“We would bring these leaders onboard the project by organising a meeting where they would be introduced to the project’s objectives, expected outcomes and their roles in driving advocacy efforts,” he said.
Mom further said that by introducing this project, it would help them access the gaps in sexual reproductive health services at the local government level, which would provide evidence to support advocacy efforts.
“We would also organise three consecutive meetings with different groups, which include women, religious leaders, government officials and traditional leaders, which would help persuade traditional and religious leaders to support the increased access to sexual and reproductive health services.
“This is to also persuade local government authorities to begin to increase financing for sexual and reproductive health and also revive primary health care facilities.
“The project team would pay an advocate visit to drive home their points to various government organisations who would help in making sure the project is successful,” he said.
Various stakeholders at the meeting lent their voices to the actualisation of the project and encouraged BENGONET to visit government officials who would bring the project to light.
Chief of Staff to Kwande LGA, Mr Chia Sunday, said the state government is doing everything in its power to see that local government gets the deserved funding.
Sunday appreciated BENGONET for coming up with such a wonderful project and prayed they get the necessary support needed. (NAN)
