By Kingsley Agim
The Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Cross River State, Chief Yibala Inyang, has dismissed allegations of underfunding of local governments in the state, describing them as “a total fallacy.”
Inyang said local governments under Governor Bassey Otu’s administration are enjoying unprecedented funding and a strong partnership with the state government, which, he said, has enabled councils to execute projects and intervene in critical areas including healthcare, sanitation, security and infrastructure.
The ALGON chairman stated this while reacting to allegations of underfunding and worsening poverty at the grassroots level made by the factional PDP governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis, at a press conference held on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the NUJ Secretariat in Calabar.
Inyang maintained that local government funds were being properly utilised for development and that the state’s joint account system had helped several councils meet their financial obligations.
“That's a total fallacy because the local governments are having the best in terms of funding. In this administration, we have power to the level that local governments are doing projects and partnering with the state to intervene in critical areas such as health, sanitation, local security and infrastructural development,” he said.
According to him, the joint account arrangement between the state and local governments was backed by law and had helped ensure the regular payment of salaries and the effective running of councils.
“Without the joint account, some LGAs won't be able to pay salaries and handle running costs in some months because of low allocation. The reason why in this administration no LGA is owing salary in the state,” Inyang stated.
He argued that local government autonomy should not be judged merely by the structure through which funds are accessed, but by the ability of councils to utilise available resources for the benefit of their people.
“Being autonomous in a system entails accessing your funds as and when due, utilising it properly and ensuring all staff of local governments get their due and carrying out welfare for the people. To me, autonomy is just semantics. It is the performance and the dividends that accrue therefrom that are most important,” he said.
The Yakurr council chairman further claimed that the Otu administration had allowed local government funds to be channelled into development projects across communities.
“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,” he said.
He challenged critics alleging diversion of council funds to provide evidence to substantiate their claims.
Yakurr Projects
Speaking on projects executed and ongoing in Yakurr, Inyang said the council had embarked on projects across virtually all its 13 wards based on identified community needs.
“If you go to Yakurr Local Government, for instance, you see massive road construction still going on. There are interventions and rehabilitation of facilities, empowerment of all sorts in the local government,” he said.
He listed the construction of culverts in Ekori, a mini-bridge in Nko, rehabilitation of the Nko Modern Market, and the ongoing construction of a modern market in Ekori among the projects undertaken by the council.
According to him, the council has also constructed culverts around Ijom near the General Hospital in Ugep, including a double-decker culvert which, he said, had collapsed before the current administration came on board.
He added that the council was constructing a new primary healthcare centre in Ijiman Ward, Ugep, through a community-local government partnership.
Other projects, he said, include the construction of pavilions at the Ugep Stadium and Mkpani community, rehabilitation of the Ugep Stadium and plans to rehabilitate structures in several schools across the local government.
Inyang said the state government was complementing the council’s efforts through major road projects in Ugep, with Ekori and Idomi expected to benefit from subsequent interventions.
He added that similar projects were being executed by other local governments across the state.
Security and Poverty
On allegations of deepening poverty at the grassroots, Inyang said the claim was unfounded, pointing to the regular payment of salaries and imprest to local government workers.
“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.
On security, the ALGON chairman said council chairmen had continued to play significant roles in managing security challenges within their respective jurisdictions.
He said several communal conflicts that were previously common had been brought under control through collaboration between local governments and the state government.
According to him, cooperation between the two levels of government was necessary because security challenges in one local government could quickly become a wider state concern.
2027 Politics
Inyang also urged politicians seeking elective positions in 2027 to focus on presenting alternative development ideas rather than resorting to what he described as blackmail and misinformation.
“For opposition politicians seeking political offices in 2027, they should outgrow this politics of blackmail, politics of misinformation and focus on what they think they can do better,” he said.
He cited the Otu administration’s reported efforts to recover Tinapa and agricultural estates, as well as its handling of the oil well dispute, as some of the milestones of the administration.
On Jarvis’ assertion that he would serve only one term if elected governor, Inyang questioned the aspirant’s experience and preparedness for governance.
“I don't think he is fit to run half a term, not to talk of one full term. Arthur Jarvis should first prove that he can run government, not run a school. Governance of a state is more in-depth and requires enough experience and exposure in various political and public offices of high repute,” he said.
Inyang, however, praised Governor Otu as a prudent administrator with what he described as a people-oriented governance approach.
“Our governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has demonstrated the qualities of a prudent administrator with people-oriented governance mentality. His achievements within this first tenure can attest to the fact he is the real person Cross River State deserves at the moment,” he concluded.
Comments
Post a Comment