By NewsCritic Reporters
Former Executive Chairman of Umuahia North Local Government Council, Reverend Sam Ekeledo has said that the supreme court verdict that granted financial autonomy to the Local Government Areas might be encumbered in Abia State due to the existence of a State House of Assembly Law that established Joint State and Local Government Projects Account.
Revd Ekeledo observed that unless the Abia State Law is repealed the direct federal allocation to the local council chairmen will inevitably flow into the so-called Joint Projects Account with the LGAs which would in turn encourage other kind of manipulations.
He says that except the administration of Governor Alex Otti is not aware of the existence of such law in the state, which is in doubts, he insists that what could happen to the allocation once it gets to the Joint Projects Account can only be imagined.
According to Ekeledo the law was made 24 years ago, and it has remained the law in Abia State, wondering if the Supreme Court directive could make any difference in the administration of local government areas in the present circumstances.
While he commended the federal government for the decision to take the bull by the horns, the former Umuahia North LGA Boss argued that until the election process in the LGAs is changed, and brought under the control of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, nothing will happen.
So, “let’s change the election process, let the election be under the control of INEC. It is important and then completely nullify the existence of Local Government Service Commission. Let each LGA have its own LGA service commission, not a state-owned organ or apparatus manipulating the entire LGA system”, Ekeledo posited.
