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Fom Isaac Job, Uyo
Local government areas in Akwa Ibom State are facing hard times for inability to access council funds from the federation account, despite local government autonomy granted by the Supreme Court two years ago.
It was gathered that after payment of salaries for the month of January, council areas have been battling with development projects as vendors have abandoned sites for lack of funds.
Council areas affected include Etim Ekpo, Ukanafun, Esit Eket, Nsit Ubium, OrukAnam, Abak, Ibesikpo Asutan, Uyo, Ikono and Eastern Obolo local government areas.
Speaking with Daily Sun in Uyo, one of the local government chairmen who pleaded anonymity said the state government was still taking charge of local government funds through Joint Accounts, which has not been removed after the Supreme Court’s ruling, which pronounced autonomy for local government areas nationwide.
“Some local government councils could not receive substantial amounts from the state government. This made the council areas to be financially distressed.
“For instance, one of the councils received a paltry sum of N120 million against N180 million they received in previous months in 2025 after deductions at the Joint Account. We have to postpone due to lack of funds. No money for administrative duties,” he said.
In Ikono Local Government Area, councillors have served impeachment notice to the chairman, Otobong Essien, for not delivering on her election promises.
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It was also gathered that inadequate funds is the problem of all the 31 local government areas in the state.
One of the stakeholders in Esit Eket Local Government Area, who pleaded anonymity said the council chairman were “suffering and laughing” as they could not confront the government over poor financial status.
“Our council chairmen are suffering and laughing. They cannot fight for their rights even when the Supreme Court has granted them autonomy.”
However, the state Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah, while reacting to the state of finances in the local government system in the state said Governor Umo Eno has not tampered with the local government funds.
He said the governor and the chairmen always agreed on projects to be executed in the council areas at the Joint Account Committee.
“Governor Umo Eno has not tampered with local government funds. The governor has said it in different fora that money for local government areas remains untouchable.
“Local government Chairmen have been given freedom to manage their funds for projects. At the joint Account Committee level, there is always an agreement on projects to be executed in local government areas,” he said.
