Despite what has been described by many as the laudable concept of the ward development policy initiated by the Niger State Government led by Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, the All Progressives Congress on Sunday called on the governor to account for the billions of money deducted at source from local governments accounts but not disbursed to the ward development committees over the years.
But the Niger State Government, in a swift reaction, said the opposition is only envious and intimidated by the strides of Governor Aliyu, adding that it will remain perpetually agitated.
In a statement in Minna by its state Publicity Secretary, Jonathan Vatsa, the APC said although the concept of the ward development policy would have brought real development to the people if it was properly implemented, the Aliyu administration had allowed corruption and fraud to swallow its implementation across the state.
However, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Aliyu, Israel Ebije, and made available to our Correspondent, the state government said the APC is only trying to present the project in bad light to score cheap political point and to also rubbish the globally acclaimed initiative of the governor.
The APC said: “The ward development project policy of the Peoples Democratic Party administration of Governor Aliyu has been used to siphon local government funds and further impoverished grassroots.
“Deductions were made every month from the accounts of the local governments but the money was not made available to the projects. We make bold to ask where are the deductions kept and in whose account?
“The truth is that the ward development project is an avenue for siphoning of public money. We call on the governor to give account of all deductions since the inception of the ward development project.”
Ebije however stated: “The funds for the project are well accounted for and monies spent so far well documented. The Niger state APC is once again on an errand of blackmail to score cheap political mileage.
“The ward Development Project policy is a very important aspect of what the true concept of dividend of democracy is all about. Governor Aliyu in his wisdom introduced the policy to mitigate years of deprivation suffered by the grassroots. The policy which is backed by law has a well established strategy for probity and accountability done by the people themselves.”