Former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, has urged state governors to ensure that funds meant for local governments get to them.
Ortom disclosed that there would be adequate development at the local government level if they get their funds.
He made the appeal while speaking at the One Nigeria Project Conference in Abuja on Wednesday.
Ortom said, “Local government remains the starting point for any development if we have to secure our land, it has to be from the local government; if we have to bring development, it has to be from the local government, if we have to bring agriculture or anything it has to be from the local government.
“As far as I’m concerned, the Supreme Court ruled that there should be autonomy for the local government and as far as I’m concerned the Federal government has consistently remitted money to the local government enough to effect development.
“I want to appeal to our governors, the 36 governors to ensure that this money gets to the local governments so that there will be effective development.
“I look forward that there will be synergy between the past local government chairmen and current chairmen, so we can come together and work like a team because we share the same purpose.
“So, our governors should do the needful and I believe that we shall get there. All the problems that we have today in Nigeria, this is what ALGON stands for, we need to be united, work together, and ensure unity in diversity.”