Benue LGAs now financially autonomous – Alia’s Aide

The Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Denen Aondoakaa, has affirmed that Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Benue State are financially autonomous.

Speaking on Monday in Makurdi during an interaction with members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Aondoakaa explained that the bureau only coordinates activities of the councils to ensure order, without interfering in their finances.

He noted that LGAs independently execute their projects and programmes based on available resources, stressing that allocations vary from one council to another.

“Local government chairmen were provided official vehicles before my appointment. Some, however, released theirs to security agencies for patrol to tackle insecurity, while others purchased motorcycles to support the effort,” he stated.

Aondoakaa also highlighted the government’s interventions in healthcare, disclosing that 98 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state have been equipped, with some LGAs having up to three or four facilities. To prevent wastage of medical supplies, he added, the bureau has installed a transformer to serve drug stores at PHC headquarters.

He further described the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) as a statutory body established to address humanitarian needs in the state.