Autonomy best thing that had happened to LGs - Awka South Mayor

---

---

By Madu Obi

The Mayor of Awka South local government area of Anambra State, Prince Chinedu Okafor has described the autonomy being enjoyed by the local governments in Anambra State as the best thing that had happened to the third -tier of government.

Addressing reporters in his office, Okafor said that the autonomy had made it possible for the chairmen to execute meaningful projects that touch the lives of the people at the grassroots.

According to him, Awka South has keyed into Governor Chukwuma Soludo's policies, adding that in line with the state's local government law, his administration has been handling issues of insecurity, cultism, drug abuse, prostitution, and other social vices because the resources are available.

He said: "Since the new local government law came into force, we have been working in synergy with the state government. We do our projects together . We have a mutual working relationship with the state government.

In the local government law, everything about the system is properly spelt out and that is the way we are functioning.

There are common services we do with the state and we follow legal process in executing the common services.

In this local government, despite the fact that it is the seat of power, we do our own projects, including erosion control, upgrading of health facilities and infrastructure in schools.

We embark on street lighting especially in the black spots and we build mini markets. We have also declared operation zero potholes in the entire capital territory.

During the Christmas, we did palliative work on all the roads in the 20 political wards in the local government area, which ensured easy drive during the festivities.

We sunk boreholes in the nine communities in Awka South and we have also procured computers for all the offices and installed solar light to make working environment conducive.

As a local government, we awarded scholarship to 20 indigenes in Awka South who are studying in the universities. In the primary schools we've been providing infrastructure to support the free education being Implemented by the Soludo administration.

We now prepare our budgets and send to the councillors for approval, and we have to account for every Kobo approved by the council."

The chairman explained that beneficiaries of the scholarships were students from poor families and hoped that it will be sustained even after his tenure.

Our belief is that anybody who enjoys such scholarship would never be a burden to the society 'the education would always come handy in the person's life", he added.