By Winnie Onu, Makurdi
The Benue NGO Network (BENGONET) has called on the Federal Government to fully implement local government autonomy across states to enable councils execute projects that will benefit people at the grassroots.
Chairman of BENGONET, Laz Mom, made the call during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi.
Mom who was represented by Victor Eboh, a lawyer, explained that implementing autonomy would ensure funds meant for the development of local government areas are used judiciously.
He said that BENGONET will be rolling out a project that seeks a minimum of five percent budgetary allocation from three local government councils in Benue to include Makurdi, Otukpo, and Kwande to improve the functionality of five grassroots primary healthcare centres through gender-responsive budgeting advocacy.
“These three LGAs will be the starting point, and we will monitor the success rate before expanding to other areas,” he said.
He added that the project also aims to establish alternative funding for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in response to the suspension of foreign aid by the U.S. government.
The chairman said that the initiative includes stakeholder mapping to identify 30 key women leaders; 10 from each of the three LGAs based on their leadership roles in their communities, noting that these leaders will be introduced to the project’s objectives, expected outcomes, and roles in driving advocacy.
He disclosed that BENGONET also plans to organise meetings with women groups, religious leaders, government officials, and traditional rulers to garner support for improved access to SRH services and increased local government financing for healthcare.
He posited that in addition, advocacy visits will be made to relevant government organisations to push for the project’s success.
Also, stakeholders at the meeting pledged support for the initiative.
Chief of Staff to Kwande LGA, Chia Sunday, said the state government is making efforts to ensure local governments receive adequate funding.
Sunday commended BENGONET for the project and expressed hope it would receive the necessary backing.
