The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has disbursed a sum of N200,000,000 grant-in-aid funds to over 600 Community Development Councils and Community Development Associations for developments across the 20 local governments of the state.
The governor announced the disbursement, on Wednesday, during the annual celebration of the 2022 World Community Day and World Trade day held in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Presenting the cheque of N500,000 to each CDA, Abiodun noted that the fund was an increase from the initial N100,000 being expended under the former administration.
The governor also disclosed that he has approved up to N500, 000, 000 as funds for projects considered to be outstanding grants-in-aid in different communities of the state.
Abiodun announced that his administration has approved a sum of N500 million to cater for Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in the state.
He stressed that the gesture is meant to fast-track the public/private sector partnership, which he said has been affirmed to be working.
He said “I have approved the increase of Grants-in-Aid of sums ranging from N500,000 to N5 million to fast track this partnership that has been affirmed to be working. Under this new grants-in-aid, the least any community and different associations will go home with is N500,000. These funds are meant for community projects.
“Similarly, I have also approved up to N5 million as funds for any projects considered to be really outstanding to be grant aided.
“These are our contributions to support the efforts of the community and applaud their initiatives towards ensuring that communities get the desired mini infrastructures and in the long run, our communities will remain habitable, safe and secured.
“For our trade and artisan group, I have redirected that a revolving loan facility of N500 million be instituted to cater for the much needed Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprise financial support. This scheme will be launched before the end of this year.”
The Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Abayomi Hunye, said lauded Abiodun for the gesture.
Hunye said, “The development of any state lies in the hands of the community. Without the community, there’s nothing we can do and the governor had considered them very critical in the decision-making of the state. If somebody deems it fit to give a community five million naira, that means he has considered them.
Abayomi noted that the state government will monitor all the communities to ensure that the funds are judiciously spent for the purposes they were meant for.
He said, “The state government has graciously given over 200 million. Provisionally, we will monitor it to ensure that it’s of standard and yearly the community will audit their records to make sure that there is no embezzlement if such happens in any Community, it will get to us and the community Will not get money again.”
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