By: Femi Mustapha
Chairmen from some Local Government Areas of Kaduna State have promised to continue to implement policies and execute people-oriented projects that will change the narrative for the people of the state.
They made the promise during a Panel discussion on the Influence of Community Development Charter (CDC) and tracking of Procurement processes organized by Local Government Accountability Mechanism LGAM and sponsored by Partnership to Engage, Reform & Learn (PERL) in Zaria, FCDO funded partners in the Kaduna State
Chairman, Kudan Local Government Area, Shaiubu Bawa Jaja said despite lean resources at their disposal due to the huge recurrent expenditure and the COVID-19 pandemic, his administration has constructed some Capital projects recommended by the CDC Champions.
He Commended the CDC program for ensuring that projects constructed are what the people needs, saying their tracking help to curb corruption, ensure quality and timely delivery of projects, and get value for taxpayers’ money
Similarly the Vice Chairman,
Lere Local Government Areas, Hon. Gambo Matthew Bulus, said
citizens’ participation in projects through the CDC had gained momentum in recent times.
He added that Lere LGA despite its dwindling resources is also implementing projects that have a direct impact on the citizens.
In his remarks, the representative of Chairman Jema’a LGA, John Samson informed the gathering that his LGA has keyed into the CDC and will continue to partner with the LG Champion for a more people-oriented program.
Mallam Jibril Abdullahi who represented Chairman Kaduna North said they are just three months in office, but promised they would consider the interests of the populace first and leave no one behind. by adhering to the CDC.
He added that his Principal would work toward putting smiles on the faces of Kaduna North Local Government Areas citizens.
Presenting the 2021 half year’s Scorecard in the 23 Local Government Areas of the State, Mr. Yusfu Goje of Coalition of Association for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment, and Development (CALPED) said the total number of capital projects in the LGAs is 1,464, while 204 were implemented.
He added that the number of CDC Projects for the period under review stood at 542 and 97 of the CDC projects were implemented.
“Total cost of the Capital projects are N15.17Billion and N9.7B was expanded on the projects. Total cost of CDC Projects is N6.5B and N629.8M was expanded on the projects in the period under review,” he said
Mr. Goje said the figures were gotten from the LG’s Champions and have not been verified by any independent or third-party organization.
Mr. Abel Adejor, the State Team Lead of Partnership to Engage, Reform & Learn (PERL)) expressed gratitude to the local government Chairmen and their representatives who grace the scorecard presentation, assuring them that his organization is on the same page with the government for citizens’ satisfaction in the area of projects implementation.
