The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria in Cross River state, Chief Yibala Inyang, has challenged opposition politicians alleging underfunding and diversion of local government funds to provide evidence to support their claims NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
Inyang described the allegations as unfounded, saying the 18 local government councils in the state were receiving funds and using them for salaries, infrastructure and other interventions at the grassroots.
The ALGON chairman stated this while reacting to allegations of underfunding of local governments made by the factional Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Javis Archibong, during a press conference in Calabar on Thursday.
He urged politicians seeking elective offices in the 2027 elections to stop what he described as blackmail and misinformation and instead provide evidence of alleged diversion or withholding of council funds.
Inyang said, “We can’t play politics with what you can’t prove with evidence. Politicians, who are looking for favour should be objective and stop subtle blackmail and old style of propaganda.”
He maintained that local government funds were being equitably distributed and utilised for their intended purposes, adding that councils had been able to execute projects and provide services through what he described as a healthy partnership with the state government.
According to him, the claim that local governments were being starved of funds was “a total fallacy”, insisting that councils had the financial capacity to intervene in areas such as health, sanitation, security and infrastructure.
The Yakurr council chairman also dismissed the allegation that local government funds were being diverted, asking those making such claims to provide evidence.
He said, “This is the first time in the history of Cross River that you have a governor who allows funds meant for local governments to be used to carry out developmental projects and interventions in our various wards. So, I do not know why anybody should allege that local government funds are being diverted. To where?”
Inyang cited projects being executed in Yakurr Local Government Area as evidence of the utilisation of council funds, including road construction, drainage works, culverts, market rehabilitation, healthcare facilities and other community projects.
He said the council had implemented projects in 12 of its 13 wards based on needs assessment, adding that the projects were targeted at addressing challenges affecting residents and the movement of agricultural produce.
The ALGON chairman further stated that local government workers in the state were receiving their salaries and that no council was owing salaries.
“Since we came on board at local government, we’ve been paying imprest to all of the civil servants, salaries have been paid completely and no local government is owing. If anybody is saying so, they should bring out facts and show how far the local government is owing,” he said.
Inyang also defended the state-local government joint account arrangement, arguing that the partnership had enabled some councils to meet their financial obligations and execute development projects.
He urged opposition politicians to focus on presenting alternative programmes and policies ahead of the 2027 elections rather than making what he described as unsubstantiated allegations against the government.
“If they really have the interest of this state, let them tell us what we’ve not done and how well they’ll do it if given the opportunity,” he said.
He added that the administration of Governor Bassey Otu had attracted development to the state and should be encouraged to do more.
Inyang’s comments followed Archibong’s recent criticism of the state government’s handling of local government finances, with the PDP governorship candidate alleging that councils had been deprived of the resources required to tackle poverty and provide basic services.
The ALGON chairman, however, insisted that the performance of local governments should be assessed based on verifiable projects, payment of workers’ salaries and services being delivered to residents rather than political claims.
