The Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Senator George Akume has called on State Governments to deploy allocated funds to the local governments for the provision of effective and efficient service delivery for Nigerians in the grassroots.

According to him, there was the need to allow Local Governments to thrive, noting that this would engender development at the grassroots.

This was contained in a statement released on Wednesday by the Director of Press of the ministry, Julie Osagie.

Akume was said to have stated this at a two-day retreat for Local Government Chairmen/Executives held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

He attributed the level of insecurity in the country to bad governance at the local government level.

It read, “State Governments should deploy allocated funds to the local governments for the provision of effective and efficient service delivery for Nigerians in the grassroots. There is the need for local governments to thrive. This would pave way for the development of the Local Government Councils.

“Bad governance at the local level has over the years led to increased wave of crimes and social maladies as banditry, kidnapping, cultism and rural-urban migration”

The Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, lamented that the revenue sharing formula by the Federal Government has posed a great problem for local government councils over the years as it was not a fair and equitable sharing formula.

The governor was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwen.