From HASSAN JIRGI Damaturu
Yobe State delegation to Morocco led by the Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Baba Malam Wali, on Monday, initiated partnership with  United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, UCLGA, in Rabat.
A statement signed by the Director of Press and Media Affairs to the governor, Mamman Mohammed, said the team in a meeting with UCLGA’s Secretary-General, Mr Jean Piere Mbassi, deliberated on the modalities for funding developments in local areas.
Mr Mbassi said the projects would be funded through African Forum for Decentralised Cooperation, FACDI, which will provide 60 percent, with the Moroccan government providing 20 percent, while the benefitting local governments would provide 10 percent in kind, including land for the projects.
The statement added that the secretary-general said there are windows for local governments to effectively combat climate change, desert encroachment and flood.
“There are opportunities to source funds from Green Climate Fund to support the fight against climate change and its consequences on the people,” he said.
Describing the discussions as fruitful, Wali said Yobe State government would hasten the registration process to facilitate the funding programme.
He said the state government would explore opportunities for capacity building, especially through the College of Administration Management and Technology, CAMTEC, Potiskum.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Ibrahim Jajere added that Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration is committed to changing the narrative in local government administration in Yobe State.
Chairman of Damaturu Local Government, Bukar Adamu assured of the readiness of the 17 local councils to register, participate and benefit from the partnership.
