Nigeria will never grow if resources are mismanaged —Special duties minister

Forum 2 years ago

Nigeria will never grow if resources are mismanaged —Special duties minister

THE Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume, has charged local government chairmen to imbibe the culture of accountability and good governance for effective service delivery.

He said the country will not prosper if it continues to sustain a system that allows a quarter of her resources to be mismanaged by a few.

Akume said this on Tuesday at a two-day National Retreat for Local Government Chairmen in Nigeria which was held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, with the theme, ‘Good Governance, Resource Mobilisation and Financial Management for Rural Development.’

According to the minister, the local government has to be properly organised and allocated funds to provide effective and efficient service delivery for the good of Nigeria.

“As a matter of fact, Nigeria will never grow if we sustain a system that allows about one quarter of our resources to be mismanaged by a few.

“It has, therefore, become absolutely necessary to imbibe the culture of accountability, good governance as well as prudent financial management for effective service delivery.”

While warning the council bosses against mismanagement of council funds, the minister noted that the third tier of government was created solely to attend to the development needs of people at the rural settlements, stressing that embezzling its funds would deepen poverty.

“The importance of local government as the third tier of government duly recognized by the 1999 constitution (as amended) by the framers of the constitution is deliberately calculated.

“It is intended to give them access to federally collected resources for enhancement of their wellbeing as well as raising their standard of living.

In a goodwill message at the event, Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel said the state had maintained good relationships with local government administrations in order to ensure service delivery.