MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS BEGIN 2021 BUDGET VETTING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS IN CROSS RIVER STATE -Central Reports

MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS BEGIN 2021 BUDGET VETTING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS IN CROSS RIVER

Determined to reposition the Local Government system in the State and return them to their glory days,the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs,Hon. Stella Oreme Odey has reiterated the need for proper budgeting by Local Government Councils as a tool for rural development.

Hon. Odey stated this while declaring open the  meeting for the vetting of the 2021 proposed budget by Local Government Councils held at the Conference room of the Ministry in Calabar.

 The Local Government Affairs Commissioner stressed the need for  Local Government Councils to reflect in their budget grassroot oriented projects that would meet the immediate needs of the people, noting that without a sound budget policy, it would be difficult to have a sustainable social welfare system.

She pointed out that Cross River State is operating a Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) hence the need for Councils to  have an all encompassing budget that would impact positively on the grassroots

Advising the Chairmen and representative of the various Councils to propose projects that would  steer up durable economic growth, Hon Odey noted that the 2021 proposed budget should dwell more on revenue generation, and urged them to initiate agricultural projects that are geared towards  boosting the Internally generated  revenue  of the Councils. 

The Commissioner said the relevance of the supervisory role played by her Ministry is to guide against derailment and duplication of projects by the State and Local Government Councils,adding that she was poised to ensuring that Local Government Council's budget are in' tandem with that of the State's budget for  even development across the State which would in turn lead to the  total well being of the entire people of Cross River State.

In their separate responses, the Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Council, Hon. Dr. Josephat Emeka Owan and the Chairman of Yala  Local  Government Council, Hon. Fabian Ogbeche, who was represented by the Council's Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) Mrs. Juliet Takon lamented the inability of Councils to implement  projects captured in the 2020 budget as a result of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic globally and also the #EnDSARS saga that has ravaged the economy of the entire Country and the world at large. 

They however promised to adhere to the Commissioner's advice and make adjustments in the budget where neccssary.

The budget vetting exercise which is a yearly activity, would have the eighteen (18) Local Government Councils present their proposed budget to their respective legislative bodies for final approval.

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