News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
As part of measures to cushion the effects of foreign aids cuts by the United States’ government, Benue NGO Network (BENGONET) has called on the Federal government to quicken full implementation of the Local Government Autonomy in states to enable local government councils handle projects that would benefit the people at the grassroots.
BENGONET Chairman, Mr. Laz Mom made this call at a meeting with stakeholders in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Mom, who spoke through Mr. Victor Eboh, a lawyer with Lawyers Alert, na NGO, said implementing the LG autonomy would ensure that money meant for development, especially in the health sector of the local government areas, would be channeled and used judiciously.
Mom said “BENGONET is rolling out a project seeking for a minimum of 5 percent budgetary allocation from three local government councils in Benue; Makurdi, Otukpo and Kwande to improve functionality of five grassroots Primary Healthcare (PHC) through gender responsive budgeting advocacy.
“These three local government area’s would be a starting point and we would monitor the success rate before expanding to other local government area’s.”
He explained that the project is also aimed at establishing alternative fundings 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 stakeholders mapping were it would identify 30 key women leaders across the three project LGA’s 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 organizing a meeting were they would be introduced to the projects objectives, expected outcomes and their roles in driving advocacy efforts,” he said
Mom noted that by introducing the project, it would help them assess the gaps in sexual reproductive health services at the local government level which would provide evidence to support advocacy efforts and help persuade governments, 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.
Other stakeholders as well as the Chief of Staff to Kwande L.G.A, Mr Chia Sunday appreciated BENGONET for coming up with such wonderful project and prayed they get the necessary support needed.
Mr Chia stated that the state government is doing everything in its power to see that local government gets the deserved funding.
He therefore pledged the commitment of Kwande LG to ensure that Primary Healthcare is accorded adequate attention it deserves.
