An economist, Ukwunetu Samuel Ali, has urged Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi State, to introduce a policy that would mandate all political appointees to initiate and sponsor at least one micro-project annually in their various communities.
Ali gave the advice in a letter he addressed to the Governor through his Office and made a copy available to our Correspondent on Sunday in Lokoja.
According to Ali, the initiative should be implemented in partnership with the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KGCSDA).
The letter is titled: ‘Suggestion for Effective Ways to Disseminating Democratic Dividends To All Communities Through KGCSDA’.
Ali said that if individual political appointees and elected members are mandated to sponsor a yearly intervention initiative, it would complement the micro-projects being implemented by KGCSDA across the state.
This, he said would have direct benefit to the residents and contribute to the state’s overall development.
He opined that the livelihoods of rural communities in the state would be altered by such interventions through KGCSDA in partnership with the World Bank and the Federal Government, to strengthen the agency’s mandate.
“Your Excellency, your administration should introduce a policy that mandates all political appointees and elected members in your administration,
to fund at least one intervention initiative in partnership with KGCSDA to foster good ties with rural dwellers.
“Rural development is the cornerstone of economic transformation of any society when handled effectively. They account for roughly 70 per cent of the state’s population.
“However, in spite of the significant contributions made by the rural populace to the state’s economic development, it has not yielded the expected results.
“This is because the previous administrations in the state had not developed the political will to commit enough funds and energy to improve the lives of rural dwellers by implementing projects and programmes that would transform the people for the betterment of our state.
“The major issues for many Nigerian rural areas, including Kogi, have been the absence of basic infrastructure and social amenities like roads, potable water, medical care, and educational facilities, among others.
“The state economy has been greatly impacted by the poor living conditions experienced by rural residents due to a high rate of rural-urban migration, especially among young people.
“This is particularly relevant about food security since many young, active people have left the rural areas, Ali said.
He emphasised that the KGCSDA was established in Kogi in 2009, and aimed at improving the socio-economic status of the populace at the local level through a demand-driven approach to project selection.
He, however, noted that quite a number of obstacles had hindered much progress, including the ignorance of some rural communities about KGSCDA’s existence and its operations in the state.
He stressed that KGSCDA was designed to cover a wide range of interventions, including education, health, water, transportation, rural electrification, socioeconomics, natural and environmental resources, and gender vulnerability, among others.
According to him, the agency is responsible for 90 per cent cost of any project executed, while each benefiting community typically pays 10 per cent as counterpart contributions to stimulate their pledges and involvement in the initiative.
Mr Ukwunetu Samuel Ali is the author of the book, titled: “A Compendium of Biographies of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Hajia Sefinat Usman Ododo, And Other Notable Women As A Panacea To Negligence Of Girl-Child Education In Nigeria”. Ali is an Asst. Superintendent of Corrections, Nigerian Correctional Services.
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