The Association of Local Government Areas of Nigeria (ALGON) in Rivers has backed the call by the state caretaker committee chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Tony Okocha, for the House of Assembly to commence impeachment procedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
The local government chairmen accused Governor Fubara of witholding its funds meant for the 23 LGAs in Rivers State.
The state ALGON said the action had denied them of their functions in the administration of the third tier of government.
According to them, the action of the governor is tantamount to proscribing local government councils in the state.
The State ALGON chairman and chairman of Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Allwell Ihunda, disclosed this at a news briefing in the state capital on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.
Ihunda further alleged that the governor was intending to dip his hands into the LGA funds.
He urged President Tinubu to call Governor Fubara to order in a bid to forestall a total breakdown of law and order in Rivers State.
“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,” Ihunda said.
“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,” he added.
During the question and answer session, however, the chairman of Andoni LGA, said he would remain in office for six months after the expiration of his tenure, as permitted under the amended Local Government Law.
