By Emmanuel Aziken

The grant-in-aids scheme to Community Development Associations in the state is undoubtedly one of the legacies of the incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Under the scheme the 132 communities and farmsteads in the state identify projects to their liking which the state government finances. Under the scheme, several abandoned projects in various sectors have been completed and where not, initiated.

In a move to further entrench himself in the minds of the citizenry, the governor has now moved to release the second tranche of aids for the execution of self-help projects.
Dr. Fayemi in a meeting to review projects being funded under the scheme with officials of the CDAs promised that the releases would be made before the end of the month.

The amount to be disbursed was not disclosed though N600 million was disbursed last year.
The various CDAs were represented at the meeting by their chairmen and secretaries according to a statement by the administration

Governor Fayemi said the programme is already actualising its set goal even as some communities have completed their projects while some are at advanced stages of completion.
He stressed that the programme is a fulfilment of his promise not to “do development to the people, but to do development with the people”.

“It is a quarterly meeting of community representatives in the 132 communities and farmsteads. We have projects almost dotting all communities. Some have been completed, some are half-way through, some are three quarter finished and we have milestone payment for them and some are due for second tranche payment. The monarchs in each community show appreciation for the self help project. They chose the project, the contractor, the carpenter and plumber.

The jobs are done in such a way that grows the local economy and help those who have skills in artisanship in the communities”, he said.

Representatives of the CDAs at the session commended the governor for his initiative which according to them has enabled them to revive and complete many projects which the communities have abandoned for lack of funds.

They affirmed that returning Fayemi was the only guarantee for the continuation of the laudable scheme.
The Commissioner for Rural Development and Community Empowerment, Mr Folorunso Olabode who oversees the scheme said the meeting became necessary in order to get feedbacks on the self-help projects even as the government merely provides the funds and monitor the execution of the projects.

Olabode said many of the benefiting communities have written to show appreciation to government for the brilliant initiative which has given their communities a new lease of life.