The Ondo State Government has disclosed that each of the 18 local government areas in the state will provide a monthly stipend of at least N20,000 to 300 residents aged 70 years and above as part of measures to strengthen social welfare at the grassroots.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, disclosed this during a press conference in Akure on Monday, where he highlighted the activities, projects and initiatives being undertaken by the local governments across the state.

Takuro said the initiative was part of efforts to reduce poverty and provide social support to vulnerable residents across the 18 local government areas.

“We are also involving social services by providing a stipend to at least minimum 300 aged people between 70 years and above in their respective local government.

“They are paying them minimum of 20,000 Naira monthly. And they are planning to even increase that number.

“In all the local government. 300 per local government,” he said.

The commissioner said the local governments had also embarked on various development projects, including the provision of water, solar street lights, markets, ICT centres, bridges, drainage works and renovation of local government secretariats.

He said some local governments had also intervened in the renovation of public facilities, including hospitals, while others had provided support for security agencies and constructed accommodation for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members.

According to him, the projects were identified and monitored across the 18 local government areas following a directive by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ensure that residents at the grassroots benefit from the dividend of democracy.

Takuro said the monitoring exercise showed that several local governments were implementing projects based on the needs of their communities.

He cited the construction of a JAMB computer-based test centre in Ilaje Local Government Area as one of the projects undertaken to address the challenges faced by students who previously had to travel to other local governments to sit for the examination.

On local government autonomy, the commissioner said the Ondo State Government was committed to aligning its operations with the Supreme Court judgment and the Federal Government’s position on financial autonomy for local governments.

“We are doing the best in order to align with the federal and the Supreme Court judgement,” Takuro said.

Takuro, however, acknowledged that full autonomy could expose disparities among the local governments, with some having sufficient funds while others could struggle to meet their obligations.

The commissioner also disclosed that the state was working to improve internally generated revenue (IGR) across the local governments.

“For example, local government has been generating 2 million before and now generating 5 million. You know there is a tremendous improvement,” he said.

The commissioner said the local governments were also undertaking drainage and waterway channelisation projects to address flooding in communities.

He said the state government would continue to monitor the activities of the local governments to ensure that projects and social interventions were targeted at improving the lives of residents at the grassroots. (The Nation)