Foreign Aid Cut: BENGONET Seeks Alternative Healthcare Funding, Urges Full Implementation of LG Autonomy

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

In response to the recent cuts in foreign aid by the United States government, the Benue NGO Network (BENGONET) has called on the Federal Government to expedite the full implementation of Local Government Autonomy across states. According to the group, this will empower local councils to undertake projects that directly benefit people at the grassroots.

The Chairman of BENGONET, Mr. Laz Mom, made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. Represented by Mr. Victor Eboh, a lawyer with Lawyers Alert (an NGO), Mom stressed that the effective implementation of local government autonomy would guarantee that funds earmarked for development—particularly in the health sector—are properly channeled and utilized.

He revealed that “BENGONET is rolling out a project that seeks at least five percent budgetary allocation from three local government councils—Makurdi, Otukpo, and Kwande—to strengthen five grassroots Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) through gender-responsive budgeting advocacy.”

According to him, these three councils will serve as pilot LGAs where results will be monitored before scaling up to other parts of the state.

Mom further explained that the initiative aims to establish alternative funding sources for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services, following the suspension of U.S. foreign aid support.

As part of the project, the team will also conduct stakeholder mapping to identify 30 key women leaders across the three pilot LGAs—10 from each area—based on their leadership roles within their communities.

“These leaders will be brought on board through an orientation meeting, where they will be introduced to the project’s objectives, expected outcomes, and their roles in driving advocacy efforts,” he added.

He noted that this process would help identify gaps in SRH services at the local government level, providing evidence to strengthen advocacy and persuade government authorities, as well as traditional and religious leaders, to support increased access to such services.

The initiative, Mom said, also seeks to encourage LG authorities to improve financing for SRH and to revive primary healthcare facilities.

Other stakeholders at the meeting, including the Chief of Staff to Kwande LGA, Mr. Chia Sunday, commended BENGONET for the initiative and expressed hope that it would receive the required support.

Mr. Chia emphasized that the state government is committed to ensuring that local governments receive appropriate funding, pledging Kwande LGA’s support to prioritize primary healthcare delivery.