A governorship aspirant in Benue State and member representing Vandeikya/Ushongo Federal Constituency, Mr. Herman Hembe, has decried the level of infrastructural decay in the state especially at the Local Governments saying when elected, he will proscribe the Local Govternment Joint Accounts, (JAC), and ensure full autonomy of that tier of government.
Hembe stated this Saturday evening when he met with the academia including lecturers from across Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and Colleges of Health Sciences in Benue State.
The lawmaker stated that Benue was created to be great but lamented that unfortunately, the state is yet to attain its full potentials since 1976 with the local governments being worst hit.
According to him, the state is not only lacking in infrastructure but also in basic factors of production being an agricultural state, hence the constant rural-urban migration.
He said lack of political will, inordinate ambition and personal aggrandizement of state leadership was largely the reason why Benue is lagging behind.
Hembe said when elected, “I will be granting local government autonomy on day one to make that tier government viable. That way, they Chairmen can perform their duties effectively.”
The governorship aspirant, who took time to enumerate his blue print for Benue said the state is challenged by Insecurity, infrastructural deficit, near collapse of the health sector at both Primary and Secondary level, collapse of the Educational sector and moribound Industries saying he would deploy his wealth of experince and make use of all available and capable hand to fix the state.
While also pointing out that Benue’s revenue collection is being done wrongly. Hembe said “there are numerous revenue points in the state and the proceeds go to wrong persons while the farmers and business men suffer lack of access roads to transport goods and farm products.
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“People, farmers in particular, are discouraged from paying taxes because oftentimes, the taxes they pay do not translate to what can be seen physically. The state cannot continue like this,” he said.
He also assured of giving more attention to the Benue Civil Service through training and retraining of workers for optimum performance.
He, therefore, urged the lecturers to rally round him and contribute to his ideas in making the state a better place for all.
Meanwhile, the lecturers who took turn to give him advices made frank and sincere remarks on how Benue could get out of the woods.
Most of the speakers expressed confidence in the person and capacity of Hembe following his courage, antecedents and track record of performance since his stay in the House of Representatives said the task of transforming Benue is a huge one.
Professor Gabriel Akume, particularly said “Benue does not need errand boys but independent minded, progressive, tried and tested hands to move the state forward.”
He urged Hembe to match action with words in delivering dividends of democracy to the Benue people when elected.
