The continued existence of the 18 development areas in Nasarawa state is now uncertain with the proposed take-off of local government autonomy.
The development areas which have hitherto depended on funding from the joint account might have to make alternative sources for finances with the proposed release of funds directly to local government accounts, henceforth.
The development areas which were created through legislation by the state assembly during the administration of former Governor Abdullahi Adamu, now a senator, enjoyed privileges as a local government areas fully staffed.
Blueprint Weekend reports that some of the development areas have more staff than the 13 constitutionally recognised local government areas in the state.
Workers at the development areas are already expressing worry that with the stringent financial regulations attached to autonomy they might not be able to get funding from the local governments.
Howeer, Barrister Innocent Lagi, a constitutional lawyer and former attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, said the 13 local government areas “can plan their budgets and appropriate funds for the development areas.”
A staff of one of the development reas, John Awayi, said the state government should find ways of funding the development areas being its creation.
According to him, some local governments will not be able to pay salaries if the staffers of the development areas are put together with that of the local governments.
“Some local governments have two developments areas meaning three local governments areas, the allocation will not be enough to fund the local governments except augmented from other sources,” he said.
However, the state chairman of the Nigerian Union of Local Government
Employees (NULGE), Abdullahi Abubakar, said he “will liaise with the state government and the state assembly to ensure amicable resolution of the issue.”
