By Emma Amaize & Ochuko Akuopha

OZORO—ASSOCIATION of Local Governments of Nigeria, ALGON, Delta State chapter has told local government councils in the state to look inwards in overcoming the current economic quagmire, saying that they could no longer continue to depend on allocations from the Federation Account for survival.

Speaking during an advocacy visit to Ozoro, Aboh and Kwale, Isoko North, Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West Local Government Areas of the state,  Chairman of the state chapter of ALGON, Sir Ithiako Ikpokpo stressed the need for stakeholders to build synergies that would enable them effectively harness the revenue generation potentials of their councils.

Ikpokpo said: “Councils became broke due to the realities of the present circumstances we find ourselves as a nation; due also to the fact that we did not plan as a nation and as a people. Then we must ask ourselves, do we just allow it to continue like that? The answer is no.

“We must put on our thinking caps; Ideas bring money, ideas rule the world. If we don’t remember ourselves, they will forget us as a nation. We must remember ourselves because we have become endangered species. If the local governments do not function, Nigeria cannot work well. If the local governments do not survive, Nigeria will not survive.

“The reality is that in developmental issues all over the world, development starts from bottom to top. Is there any road that is not in a local government? Is there any hospital that is not in a local government? Is there any market that is not in a local government? All social infrastructure are in local government areas. Our job is to support the states.

“We must plan, we must synergize. There are people well over 60 years, they are still working and we are protecting them. There are people with fake results and degrees working and we are protecting them. The average salary wage bill of a local government is N60 million, so who suffers? All of us suffer.”