Bayelsa LGAs Can’t Survive On Their Own, Says Diri
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Even with the autonomy granted local governments in the country, it will be a difficult task for local governments in Bayelsa State to survive on their own without the financial support of the state government, according to the state governor, Senator Douye Diri.
Diri said at the swearing in of chairmen of two Rural Development Authorities (RDAs) in Yenagoa that contrary to the impression that states were tampering with local government funds paid through the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC), the case of Bayelsa was different as the government was always augmenting their funds.
The governor noted that creation of the RDAs was part of the government’s initiative of taking development to the nook and cranny of the state. He said: “My administration will continue to give full support to the local government system, regardless of the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy.
“Unlike the impression being peddled that state governments control what goes to the local government accounts after FAAC allocation, the Bayelsa State government augments their funds, as some local councils run in deficit.
“You are carrying the banner of this Prosperity Government to your rural development authorities. I charge you to discharge your duties dutifully and humbly to the people at the grassroots.”
Those sworn-in were Mr. Andrew Ikputu-Kirifa for Ogboin South/Tarakiri RDA and Mr. Christian Egbo for Ogbia Central RDA.
The governor, again, expressed concern over the destruction to the power transmission lines serving the state by vandals that has thrown the state into total darkness.
He said he has kept the Commissioner for Power and Managing Director of the Bayelsa State Electricity Company on their toes working with the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to ensure that power was quickly restored while the government’s plan to achieve independent power supply for the state was on course.
