By Faith Igbudu
Acting chairmen of the 23 local governments in Benue have lauded Governor Hyacinth Alia for his swift response in tackling security challenges bedeviling local government areas in the state.
They gave the commendation on Tuesday during the monthly Joint Account Allocation Committee, JAAC, meeting of the 23 local governments held at the Bureau of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in Makurdi.
Acting Chairman/DGSA Ukum, Mr Joseph Apera, who spoke on behalf of the chairmen said, n response to their earlier plea, the state government has equipped them at the local government level to handle security issues, saying that it has greatly improved the security situation at the third tier of government.
Apera, who is also the chairman, Forum of Acting Local Government Chairmen, said, on their part as acting chairmen, they will ensure that dividends of democracy are enjoyed the grassroots.
“On behalf the acting chairmen of the 23 local government areas, I extend deep appreciation to the Governor of the state, His Excellency, Rev. Hyacinth Alia, for hearing us. We made a cry here last JAAC and he has since responded.
“You remember, we said there are various security challenges in our various local governments and he adequately made provisions for us to handle most of it”.
Similarly, some labour unions in the state have given kudos to Governor Alia for his initiatives to salvage the state from ruins and change the narrative on issues concerning workers’ welfare.
They unions namely, the Nigerian Union of Teachers, NUT, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees, NULGE, and Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC, Benue State chapters in their separate submissions said the Alia-led government has swiftly responded to challenges facing workers that were capable of bringing to a halt activities in the state, thereby giving rise to huge economic loss.
Earlier in his welcome address, Director, Administration and Finance, in the Bureau, Adanu Eigege, extended government’s appreciation to the labour unions in the state for their display of maturity in handling misunderstandings.
He said such acts will be continuously needed to move the state forward. “We are happy that we have not received any threat to peace from any council, that means you have been doing your work well as chairmen.
He directed the immediate payment of salaries to local government staff, stressing that all hitches that may be recorded during payments should be addressed without delay.
“Ensure that the lapses you experienced last month are adequately addressed and start payment of workers’ salaries on Thursday ( August 3,2023) considering that the economy is very critical and tough,” he said.
