Ukorebi Esien | August 15, 2026
CALABAR — The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Cross River State chapter, Chief Yibala Inyang, has dismissed claims of underfunding of local government councils in the state, insisting that the councils are fully funded under the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
Inyang, who is also the Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area, made the clarification in reaction to claims made by the factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis, during a press briefing on Monday at the Ernest Etim Press Centre in Calabar.
Jarvis had, during the briefing, raised concerns over the alleged underfunding of local governments and the worsening economic situation at the grassroots, among other criticisms of the Otu administration.
But responding to the claims, the ALGON chairman described the allegation of underfunding as “a total fallacy,” maintaining that local governments in Cross River were receiving adequate funds to discharge their responsibilities and execute development projects.
“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,” Inyang said.
He explained that the funds allocated to the councils were being utilised for their intended purposes, stressing that the partnership between the state and local governments had enabled the even distribution of development across the 18 local government areas.
According to him, the joint account arrangement between the state and local governments had also helped some councils meet their obligations, particularly in periods when allocations were insufficient to independently cover salaries and running costs.
“The reason why in this administration no LGA is owing salary in the state,” he said.
Inyang argued that local government autonomy should not be reduced to the question of who physically controls the funds, but should be measured by the ability of councils to access resources, pay workers, execute projects and deliver services to the people.
“Being autonomous in a system entails accessing your funds as at 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 dividend that accrue therefrom that are the most important thing,” he stated.
The ALGON chairman further challenged those alleging diversion of local government funds to produce evidence, insisting that councils across the state were implementing projects in their respective 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. So, I do not know why anybody should allege that local government funds are being diverted. To where?” he queried.
Giving an insight into activities in Yakurr, Inyang listed road construction, drainage works, culvert construction, market rehabilitation, health infrastructure and sports facilities among projects being undertaken by the council.
He said the council had implemented projects in almost all its 13 wards based on identified community needs, including the construction of culverts along farm roads to ease the movement of agricultural produce.
The council chairman also cited the rehabilitation of the Nko Modern Market, construction of a modern market in Ekori, construction of a primary healthcare centre in Ijiman Ward, rehabilitation of the Ugep Stadium and construction of pavilions in Ugep and Mkpani.
He said the state government was complementing the efforts of the councils through major road projects, particularly in Ugep, with Ekori and Idomi expected to benefit from similar interventions.
On allegations of deepening poverty at the grassroots, Inyang said the claim was not supported by facts, stressing that local government workers were receiving their salaries and other entitlements.
“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,” he said, challenging critics to provide evidence of any council indebtedness.
The ALGON chairman also defended the role of local governments in security management, saying council chairmen had continued to work with the state government to address communal conflicts and other security challenges.
He maintained that given the interconnected nature of the 18 local government areas, security challenges in one council could easily become a wider state problem, making collaboration between the state and councils necessary.
Turning to the 2027 political contest, Inyang urged opposition politicians to focus on issues and present clear alternatives to the electorate rather than resorting to what he described as misinformation and blackmail.
“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 also dismissed Jarvis’ advocacy for a one-term administration, arguing that governing a state required extensive political and administrative experience.
Inyang expressed confidence in Governor Otu's administration, citing what he described as its achievements in development and the recovery of strategic state assets as reasons why the governor deserved support for continuity.
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