From Scholastica Onyeka, Makurdi
Governorship candidate of the Labour Party, (LP), in Benue state, Mr Herman Hembe, has kicked against the approval of N2 billion request brought before it by the state Governor Samuel Ortom.
Recall that the Benue House of Assembly, on Monday, approved a request brought before it by the state Governor Samuel Ortom, to allow the 23 Local Government Areas in the state to access an overdraft of N2 billion from Fidelity Bank PLC.
According to the Governor, the loan was to supplement incomes from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), to meet some critical statutory needs of the LGs.
He has in a letter stated that the overdraft which will be obtained at an interest rate of 25 per cent for 90 days shall be repaid from statutory income flow from the Federation Account to the LG Councils.
Reacting to the approval in a statement signed by, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Kengeng Ati, Hembe accused the state government of stifling resources and choking the local government system in the state.
Hembe, who expressed worry over the loan, wondered why the third tier has not been allowed to deliver dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.
While promising to deliver Local Government autonomy on the first day in office when elected as Governor in 2023, the Labour governorship candidate urged the suffering masses in the Local Government system to endure the hardship as help is only five months away.
He further stated that the Labour Party government will scrap the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, abolish the corruption ridden joint account system and ensure the delivery of complete and absolute autonomy to the local governments in the state in order to stimulate sustainable growth and sustenance at the grassroots.