The twenty three (23) Local Government Chairmen in Benue State are to fully key into the development initiatives of the administration of Governor Hyacinth Alia for accelerated transformation at the grassroots.
Chairman of Guma Local Government Area who doubles as the Chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria ( ALGON), Hon Maurice Orwough gave this indication during an interface with journalists at his residence, in Makurdi.
The Chairman said, Governor Hyacinth Alia, who has deep grassroots orientation has proven his passion to changing the narratives of people at the grassroots by positively impacting on their lives within a short time in his art of governance.
” It has not been an easy task because we have come into an administration that is purely new because the Governor of Benue State has come with a total change of what has been obtainable in the State.
“The work couldn’t have been easy for us because we met practically nothing for us at the grassroots because everything about the local government was in bad shape” , he said.
According to him, the council Chairmen were trying to work speedily since the governor has not rested all the while to ensure that the people at the grassroots receive the dividends of democracy.
“For us in Benue the governor has given us a free hands to operate and the autonomy is just coming as a formality and when the autonomy is fully operational the speed will be very high”, he said.
He noted in particular the unprecedented achievements in areas of security, infrastructure, and youth development as well as health and education, saying the midas touch in these sectors clearly points that the governor was for the masses.
“He has done what he would have done in 8 years already, for his security initiatives, Guma Local Government has been calm since the governor assumed office, with no reported case of killings or community crises.
” As I speak with you now the security situation is very calm. Since he assumed office he took proactive measures and for the past two to Three months I have not witnessed any killing of herdsmen/farmers attack in Guma local government.
“We are planning to see how people will have fertilizers and to key into modernized agriculture that the governor is doing “, the Chairman said.
He acknowledged the governor’s infrastructural development projects, including the renovation of the State Secretariat, construction of clinics, provision of agricultural inputs and applications, renovation of schools, payment of salaries and pensions among many other transformative changes saying these are some of the innovations that the governor was introducing.
Hon Orwough explained that as the Chairman of Guma local government, he has recorded significant achievements. He has renovated the local government secretariat, which was in a bad shape when he assumed office, he has flagged off the construction of a clinic at Aninge, Mbadwem Council Ward, and is renovating another clinic at Ukaa, Uvir Council Ward. Orwough is also renovating some buildings at LGEA Primary School, Uikpam, and has fixed a transformer at Mbabai Council Ward.
Furthermore, he is set to commence work on the construction of bridges along the Daudu-Gbajimba Road, a project that will greatly improve the lives of residents in the area. Orwough also recently sponsored the Benue Youth Cultural Carnival, which has been dormant for over eight years.
He noted that governor Alia has unequalled commitment to youth development, stating that he has also brought youth into his government and revived the state’s cultural activities such as the Benue Youth Cultural Carnival.
Orwough said, “The governor has changed the face of the town. You look at when it is night, the town is very bright. In terms of security, before he assumed office, you can agree with me that there are areas that you don’t step your foot in the night.”
The ALGON Chairman said the Alia’s administration has achieved significant milestones in terms of payment of salaries and arrears, saying, “The governor pays salary on the 22nd. The local government is also paying the same. So pensioners are also smiling.”
He, therefore expressed the commitment to collaborating with the media to project the activities of the local government and the state administration, saying, “I am open 24 hours. I will appreciate what you are doing if you continue to project the government, the achievements are all over everywhere.”
