By: Isaac Kertyo, Makurdi
The Chairman of Katsina-Ala Local Government Council and Benue State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. Justine Shaku, has pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to promote development and good governance. Shaku made the commitment when the Benue NUJ leadership, led by its Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, visited the council on an accountability tour.
He described journalists as important partners in governance and said the visit provided an opportunity to highlight his administration’s projects despite security challenges in the area.Shaku said his administration had established three science schools in Katsina-Ala township, Tordonga and Gbor, with more than 100 staff employed to manage the institutions.
He also said the council had opened about 20 kilometres of rural roads and introduced free medication for women during childbirth in council-owned health facilities. He added that accident victims and victims of herder-related attacks had received free treatment.The chairman said insecurity had affected more than nine council wards when he assumed office but had reduced significantly through security efforts by the state government.
On agriculture, Shaku said the council had refurbished its tractors under an initiative tagged “Operation Feed Yourself: Eat What You Produce and Produce What You Eat.” He added that his administration had also renovated the chairman’s residence, office and legislative chambers. Earlier, Ugber said the NUJ visit was aimed at promoting accountability and obtaining first-hand information on the council’s performance.(Daybreak Nigeria)
