Ekiti State Government is set to construct a modern Neighborhood market in each of the 16 local governmentheadquarters in the state.
The Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Barrister Paul Omotoso who made this known in Ado Ekiti at the monthly Ministerial Press briefing organized by the state Ministry of Information and Civic
Orientation, said that sites for the proposed markets have been located and inspected for suitability, adding that bids have also been received from prospective contractors.
According to the Commissioner, the cost of the proposed markets is currently being vetted by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to ensure prudence in line with the policy of the Fayemi-led administration in the state.
Assuring that the initiative would boost economic activities in thestate, Mr. Omotoso said that the design of the markets would ensure security to lives and property with the provision of perimeter fence
and gate house in each of the markets.
He highlighted the features of each of the markets to include 28 lock-up shops, 60 open stores, 16 toilets and six urinals while the external pavement will have asphalt overlay or interlocking stones.
Listing the functions of his ministry to include provision of guidelines for the operation of Local Governments as approved by the state government; coordinating the activities of the councils; serving as liaison for the state, MDAs and the local governments as well as monitoring capital projects of the councils, Omotoso said that the ministry not only successfully supervised the first phase of the 5kilometer road projects in the local government areas which are near completion, it is at the verge of starting the second phase of the
project tagged Local Government Township Road Development project.
He said that the second phase of the project which will be funded from the Excess Crude Oil Account consists of 94.278km of township roads currently undergoing design and costing but will be awarded in
September.
The Commissioner explained that the ministry also facilitate local government term plans, budget preparation and implementation, act as secretariat for the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), handles
capacity development of political office holders in local governments as well as issues bothering on their remuneration.
Barrister Omotoso said that the technical support of the Auditor General of the Local Government at the monthly meetings of the ministry with the local government has ensure proper fund management adding that more motivational devices would soon be perfected and put in place to enhance efficiency in the running of the local government
.
He assured that government would leave no stone unturned towards ensuring development of the grassroots, stressing however that all stakeholders must acknowledge the importance of the local government to grassroots development and be ready to support the tier of government in order to achieve its lofty objectives.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Tayo Ekundayo who spoke through the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Kola Ajumobi, noted that the forum was
organized to highlight the achievements and constraints of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs as well as generate feedback from critical stakeholders at the local government level.
The Commissioner said that the Fayemi Administration had recorded giant strides in all spheres of human development since its assumption of office in 2010, emphasizing that the pace of transformation in the rural under the present administration was unprecedented in the history of the state
