KGCSD stops community projects funding

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From Adama John, Lokoja
Kogi Community and Social Development Agency (KGCSDA) has resolved to stop funding community projects in Local Government Areas that fail to meet financial contributory obligations to the agency.
The General Manager of the agency, Mr James Odiba told journalists  Tuesday in Lokoja that the agency had no choice than to take the drastic measure to wake the councils up from their inertia.
He said that the Local Governments whose primary obligation it was to ensure development at the community level were reluctant to partner the agency in its efforts at bringing development closer to the people.
The agency, according to him, is compiling the list of defaulting local councils for onward submission to the State Government for necessary action, adding that the World Bank assisted programme required contributions from the councils and benefiting communities.
“The banks and the World Bank are not happy that we are till executing projects in communities whose councils are defaulting. They want us to make sure that only those communities whose councils are responding that are qualified for assistance,” he said.
Mr. Odiba said that even at the recent workshop on mainstreaming Community-Driven Development (CDD) in Local Government Plans, organized by the agency for Local Government officials, only the Liaison Officer of Okehi attended personally while others sent representatives.
“The Local Governments are meant to help solve development needs of the rural communities where the highest population resides and as we all know, development is least at the grassroots.
“If at the Local Government level, we take the bull by the horn and course development to trickle down constantly, things will be better for the people and even the politicians will not suffer crises of legitimacy”, he added.
According to him, the CSDA training on CDD was held in the three senatorial districts of the state to acquaint Local Government officials with the bottom-top development approach of the agency and for possible adoption.

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