LG AUTONOMY: APC youths say A’Ibom govt, council chairmen have shown disdain for accountability

Youths under the aegis of All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Caucus in Akwa Ibom have condemned the state government as well as council chairmen in the state for opposing financial autonomy for local governments.

Following a directive by the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on direct allocation of funds to Local Governments (LG) from the Federation Account, effective June 1, the state government and the 31 council chairmen jointly filed a suit opposing the decision.

Speaking for the youths in a statement on Sunday, the State Chairman of APC Youths Caucus, Obong Iniobong, said they were disappointed by the state government’s conspiracy with council chairmen to truncate development at the grassroots.

He said, “The evil conspiracy between the Akwa Ibom state Government and the local government chairmen against the autonomy granted the local government by the APC federal government and to us, is absurdity of the highest order.

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“At this juncture, we like to know the fears and interests of the state government. Is it that the state government can’t function without controlling local government funds?

“We understand that the local government chairmen were well “appreciated” by the state government to sign against their freedom or autonomy. To say that they are hypocrites and sycophants is an understatement.

“This is the first time we’ve seen how someone was paid by his slave master to sign against his freedom. It is really absurd”, the statement said.

They noted that “the suit by the Akwa Ibom state Government and the local government chairmen against local government autonomy is the height of open display of disdain for accountability and grassroots development which was the primary essence of the local government system.

“Any local government chairman who says he or she is not competent and capable of controlling and managing funds accruing to his or her Council should resign immediately. It shows he or she never had any plans to develop his or her area”, it said.

They warned the state governor to take his eyes and mind off the local government funds, adding that “we want to be holding the local government chairmen accountable for the lack of development at the grassroots”.

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