Niger State Government has granted partial autonomy to the 25 Local Government Area Councils in the State.
This was part of councils decision made known to journalists by the commissioner for information and strategy, Sani Mohammed Idris at a post council briefing in Government House.
The council also noted that the autonomy which is geared towards repositioning the financial obligations of the councils, and billed to commence this October, will be for a period of six (6) months after which it will be reviewed.
Idris Mohammed who spoke on behalf of the commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftancy Affairs, Abdulmalik Sarkin Daji, said the State Executive Council believes that the partial autonomy will ensure sustainability in the Local Government Councils, stressing that the joint account that has hitherto been operational was necessitated by the inability of some Local Government Councils to sustain themselves.
“This implies that when FAAC allocation is received and statutory deductions made, all the money will be sent to the Local Government Councils directly.
This will enable them manage and pay their own bills and make adjustments where necessary”, he added.
Meanwhile, the State Government has constituted a committee that will evolve strategies aimed at boosting the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State to ensure sustainability.
In another development, the State Government has constituted a 5-man Central Working Committee CWC charged with the responsibility of organizing the 45th anniversary of the State’s creation coming up on the 3rd of February, 2021.
The CWC will be headed by the Deputy Governor of the State Ahmed Muhammed Kesto, with the Chief of Staff Ibrahim Balarabe, Commissioners for Information and Strategy Sani Idris, Youths and Sports Emmanuel Umar and that of Women Affairs Fati Tasala Ibrahim as members.
