Dear Chair, you are not yet in office. I do not know who you will be. But whoever it turns out to be, I am writing you this letter because, I am still assuming, albeit confidently that with the Supreme Court judgment on LG allocation, which has ordered that FAAC allocation should be paid directly into LGA accounts, you will be getting an average of N200million monthly, as Obudu LGA Chairman. It could be much higher some months.
I am taking this queue from what the Council got from federal allocation from January to December 2023. It amounted to N3.2billion only. That information is from BudGIT and the Budget office. Using the same template, you will receive nearly N10billion in a three year tenure, and that doesn’t include Internally Generated Revenue IGR. You will agree with me that this money is massive. The excuse for non performance was that, most of the money is captured by the State Governor and doesn’t get to the Council. Now that the governor may not be able to siphon the money again, there shouldn’t be any excuse for failure.
Let us assume Mr. Chairman that, you spend half of your monthly N200m on your overhead and other pressing political exigencies, including the money you will ‘steal’, because you will, what will you do with the remaining N100million x 12 months x three years? How will you use it for the development of our LGA? Give us an idea! Break it down to the ordinary man because the LGA is for the ordinary man.
Do you know the total number of schools and children enrolment and out of school children in Obudu? Do you appreciate the relevance of modern learning tools and technology in early education? Will primary education in Obudu under your leadership be free or paid for by pupils? Do you know the number of health centers in Obudu and their current state? Do you know anything about infant and maternal mortality and the trailing figures in Obudu? How many kilometers of roads does Obudu have? Which ones are in Trunk C? Which of them are more strategic to rapid development? Do you have this information? Does it ever cross your mind that these questions are pertinent?
I am asking because we will track the money from Abuja down home. That is for your information. The reason is because the money belongs to us. Not you. If indeed the money is paid directly into our LGA account, we will not allow you transfer it to the Governor under any guise unless for pending or arising obligations. If for any reason, the Governor finds a means to withhold the allocation, even through the House of Assembly, we will rise together and fight with you until we get our money. I will personally join you in that fight.
But what will you use the money for? We need to know. That is very critical. Say it in very clear terms. Write it down for us in black and white, let us copy it as your assessment card and marking scheme. In other words, we need to see your detailed work program.
Also remember Mr. Chairman, the fourth schedule of the Nigerian Constitution, clearly spells out the functions of the Local Government Areas LGAs.
1. Construction and maintenance of roads, gardens, street lights, drains, public highways, parks and public conveniences.
2. Registration of deaths, marriages and births.
3. Establishment and maintenance of slaughterhouses, markets and motor parks.
4. Naming of roads, streets, and numbering of houses.
5. Establishment and maintenance of cemeteries and burial grounds and homes for the destitute and infirm.
6. Provision and maintenance of health services.
7. Development of natural and agricultural resources, except for the exploitation of mineral resources.
8. Provision of primary, adult and vocational education.
9. Licensing of bicycles, trucks (other than mechanically propelled trucks), canoes, wheelbarrows and carts.
10. Provision and maintenance of public transportation and refuse disposal systems.
11. Assessment of privately owned houses or tenements for the purpose of levying such rates as may be prescribed by the House of Assembly of the State.
12. Control and regulation of outdoor advertising, movement and keeping of pets of all descriptions, shops and kiosks, restaurants and other places for sale of food to the public, and laundries.
With the exception of number 1, number 6, and number 8, which are government services, all the other nine functions of the LGAs listed supra, are revenue earners. Very heavy revenue earners. Look at the list again.
How do you intend to leverage on those nine revenue earners to internally generate revenue for the upgrade of health and educational facilities in the LGA, without putting too much burden of taxation on the people? People will willingly pay taxes for development, but not for the upkeep of politicians.
Tell us your reach and exposure. What strings will you be able to pull to attract external resources into the LGA within your tenure? Where are those places you can see opportunities outside the LGA?
Apart from the recent surge in gang violence and the perennial communal clashes with the Tivs, Obudu is generally a peaceful place that draws people with its hospitable ambience. With the right balance and intentional strategies, proper harnessing of those revenue heads can yield as much as another 100million monthly, if not more.
So dear Chair, kindly do the good people of Obudu and break these questions down in a simple document that we can understand and run with. That will help us to properly assess you and determine whether you deserve our vote or not.
Thank you and God bless you.
Yours sincerely,
Citizen Agba Jalingo.
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Agba Jalingo, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organization the author works for.