Councillors from Osisioma Ngwa Local Government have resigned, alleging that the Abia government is obstructing the release of funds. Victor Ngwakwe, the head of the Osisioma Ngwa Legislative Council in Abia State, has stepped down from his role, claiming that the local government finances have been entirely commandeered by the Abia State Government, rendering councillors ineffective and without resources to carry out essential community initiatives. Representing the Osokwa Ward, Ngwakwe voiced his dissatisfaction with the ongoing restriction on access to local government funding, stating that this situation has hindered governance at the local level. In discussing his resignation, he remarked, “Our people are not demanding too much.” They only seek the fundamental responsibilities that the government is expected to fulfill. However, the community members are not familiar with the individuals at the state level; their only point of contact is their local councillors, who sadly lack the necessary funding to operate. He criticized the state government for breaching the 1999 Constitution and the Local Government Act by completely overseeing local government funds from Umuahia, rather than permitting councils to handle their own budgets. “All decisions are made at Government House in Umuahia, which contradicts the explicit provisions of the Constitution,” he remarked. Ngwakwe’s resignation has brought to light the ongoing debate regarding local government independence in Abia State. Numerous councillors have allegedly voiced their concerns about financial constraints that hinder their ability to fulfill their duties to their communities. One councillor, who wished to remain unnamed, supported this assertion, indicating that councillors receive a monthly salary of only N240,000 and have no say in budget or project decisions. “Our salary as councillors is N240,000, and it isn’t sufficient to address the issues at hand.” We are not involved in any projects, and we have no information on the amount of funding allocated or its expenditure. “We have no idea how much money is received by the council,” the councillor expressed with concern. He added that councillors in Abia fail to carry out their constitutional responsibilities, including approving budgets, exercising oversight, and allocating funds.
