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Frank Nweke Jr, the APGA gubernatorial candidate for Enugu State, has assured the people of the state that Local Government authorities will enjoy autonomy and full access to their funds instead of what currently obtains in the PDP-led administration.

He made this statement while engaging Chartered Accountants at the end-of-year retreat of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Enugu Chapter.

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Responding to a question and concern raised by one of the participants, Nweke was emphatic in his statement that all funds meant for the local government areas will be properly channelled to them for the purpose of carrying out development initiatives for the people under their direct care.

“Under my leadership, the autonomy of local governments will be total and respected in every way. I, Frank Nweke Jr, will never touch revenue approved for the third tier of government. This is the tier of government that is closest to the people and provides the immediate succour needed for social and economic development. They will be treated with the utmost respect.

“However, we will put in place policies and programs that will ensure maximum accountability by local government officials to make sure that funds are deployed for the welfare of the people.” He said.

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The former minister of information also spoke extensively on his administration’s commitment to practice radical transparency by putting the right governance structure in place and allowing government officials to carry out their duties with minimal interference from the executive arm of the government while ensuring due processes to avoid financial malfeasance.

We will implement a school feeding program to ameliorate effects of food insecurity – Frank Nweke Jr

Speaking further at the ICAN end of the year retreat, Frank Nweke Jr stated that one of his administration’s cardinal policy initiatives will be a functional feeding program for public schools across the State.

The former senior fellow at the Lagos Business School said nutrition was a key factor in the ability of children to learn. Citing his experience while on campaign ward tours across the State, he lamented the unfortunate level of poverty and hunger especially in the rural areas.

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“Food security is a problem in the State. We have too many children malnourished and unkempt and that needs to be addressed holistically even as we improve our curriculum. Only children who are well fed can learn. We will implement a school feeding program across our public schools because of the importance of nutrition to brain development and learning.”

Going further, he said his administration’s plan is to address food insecurity from multiple angles, by first ensuring that the security challenges affecting farming communities and other parts of the State are effectively resolved. Then, improving the productivity of itinerant farmers for local consumption by providing high-yield seedlings free of charge, subsidising fertiliser and rendering extension services through a dedicated cadre of the Ministry of Agriculture in the State.

“Our itinerant farmers will be encouraged to learn modern farming techniques and provided with the tools. On the commercial level, we are going to invite corporate farms and investors to cultivate their farms here and have factories in the State.

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“Carlos Farms was about to start exporting Pineapples from Enugu but the poor regulatory environment and corruption put an end to that project. My administration will revive it and attract more agricultural investors”, he noted.