Afrigather The Rivers State chapter of the Affiliation of Native Authorities Areas of Nigeria (ALGON) has accused Siminalayi Fubara, the state governor, of withholding the funds for native authorities areas (LGAs) since April 2024.
Throughout a press convention on Wednesday, Allwell Ihunda, ALGON’s chairman in Rivers, acknowledged that Fubara has not convened the joint account allocation committee assembly required for disbursing funds to the LGAs.
Ihunda, additionally the chairman of Port Harcourt LGA, talked about that the governor’s actions have disadvantaged the native authorities stage of mandatory funds for operation.
He stated, “It has come to the discover of the Affiliation of Native Governments of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, that the Rivers state authorities, below the management of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has uncared for, failed, and intentionally refused to carry the statutory joint account allocation committee assembly, which is the prerequisite for the disbursement of funds because of the native authorities within the state joint native authorities accounts.
“He has continued to withhold the statutory allocations because of the 23 native authorities councils of Rivers state since April 2024 and within the case of Emuoha LGA since March 2024 until date for no simply course, thereby ravenous the third tier of the federal government of the funds required to discharge its statutory capabilities within the administration of the native authorities areas.”
Ihunda reported that Fubara met with LGA administration heads and treasurers, instructing them to arrange wage vouchers for civil servants, however not together with chairpersons, vice chairpersons, and councillors.
The governor’s actions, in keeping with Ihunda, are an try to entry LGA funds on to pay salaries, bypassing elected native authorities officers.
Ihunda criticised Fubara’s latest remarks concerning the non-existence of the home of meeting, suggesting a regression to autocratic governance.
He referred to as on President Bola Tinubu to deal with the scenario with Fubara.
The press briefing assertion obtained assist from 21 LGA chairpersons within the state.
Fubara and Nyesom Wike, the previous governor and present minister of federal capital territory (FCT), have been in battle over the state’s political management.
The connection between Fubara and the state meeting, which consists of Wike’s supporters, is strained.
In April, the meeting enacted the native authorities modification invoice, regardless of Fubara’s refusal to assent.
The modification permits the meeting to increase the tenure of LGA chairpersons and councillors by way of a decision if elections can’t be held earlier than their time period ends.
The Rivers meeting claims the modification goals to facilitate LGA elections earlier than the present administration’s time period concludes.
On April 16, the Rivers excessive court docket issued an interim order to the meeting to halt actions on extending LGA officers’ tenure.
This order was a response to a lawsuit by Enyiada Cooky-Gam, Opobo-Nkoro LGA’s government chairman, and eight different council officers.
However, the meeting proceeded to cross the modification invoice into regulation.
