The Rivers State Chapter of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of sitting on funds meant for the 23 LGAs in the state, thereby restricting them from carrying out functions in the administration. Speaking on behalf of the group during a news briefing in Port Harcourt, the Chairman of Port Harcourt LGA, Allwell Ihunda, accused the governor of withholding allocations meant for the LGAs since April, and March in the case of Emohua. He further alleged that the governor intended to dip his hands into the LGA funds. They called on President Tinubu to call Governor Fubara to order, to forestall a total breakdown of law and order in Rivers State.
The LG chairmen said the action of the Governor is tantamount to proscribing local government councils in the state, even as they backed the call by the Caretaker Committee Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Tony Okocha, for the State House of Assembly to commence impeachment proceedings against the Governor.
Ihunda stated, “It has come to the notice of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, that the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has neglected, failed, and deliberately refused to hold the statutory Joint Account Allocation Committee Meeting which is the prerequisite for the release and disbursement of funds due to the local government in the State Joint Local Government Accounts.
“And has continued to withhold the statutory allocations due to the 23 local government councils of Rivers State since April 2024.“And in the case of Emuoha LGA since March 2024 till date for no just course, thereby starving the third tier of the government of the funds required to discharge its statutory functions in the administration of the local government areas.”
