Gov Otti Justifies State’s Intervention In Local Government Autonomy In Abia State

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has rejected claims that the state Government, through its newly promulgated Local Council Law has been undermining the Supreme Court verdict on the autonomy of Local Governments in the State.

The Source reports that the country’s apex court had, in a landmark ruling in July 2024, affirmed the financial autonomy of the Third Tier of Government in the country.

The ruling, particularly, frowned at the continued tempering, by the State Governments,of Local Council finances including the statutory monthly Federal Allocation.

However, many State Governments, since the Supreme Court judgment, have devised some ingenious measures, including the enactment of sometimes nebulous laws to undermine the said council autonomy.

The Abia State Government in March, 2025, enacted one of such laws– the Abia State Local Government Administration Law 2025.

The law which provides for the establishment, structure ,composition, finance, and functions of Local Government Areas in the State and for other related purposes, has been perceived by not a few as a subtle means through which the State Government has continued to exact control over Councils’ funds

Of recent, the opposition has been strident in its condemnation of the Abia State Government propensity to stifle activities at the councils, most of which are alleged to be starved of their Statutory Allocations.

The opposition camp has alleged that the Councils, despite hundreds of millions of Naira, accruing to them monthly from the Federation Account Allocation, go cap in hand to execute  projects not up to N10 million.

Some local authorities are said to be soliciting community and voluntary  donations from residents to enable them carry out the grading of rural roads and provide essential services.

There are widespread speculations that a significant number of the officials of the State’s 17 local councils cannot meet some of their basic obligations to their people owing to the state Government’s tight control of council funds.

But reacting to the allegations on Thursday night June 19, 2025, during his monthly Media Chat, Governor Otti, maintained that the Abia Local Government law is not in any way in conflict with the ruling of the Supreme Court on Council autonomy.

While noting that the Abia Local Council Law as enacted, is in tandem with the  spirit and letters of the Apex Court’s ruling, the Governor, however, insisted that laws must be interpreted ,and implemented in such a manner as to not allow a descent to chaos and erosion of good governance.

Contrary to the belief in some quarters, Governor Otti informed that the State Laws on Local Council Administration aim to enhance, and not hinder service delivery by the Local Government Authorities.

According to him, the State’s Local Council Law was principally meant to ensure the realization of the intentions of the Supreme court ruling, without creating a dysfunctional system.

“The Supreme Court judgment has an intention, and the intention of any law is not to ensure a breakdown of service .

“The Supreme Court actually made a law by that judgment, and whatever we did with the law we passed was to ensure that the intended objective of that law is achieved.

“It would be irresponsible for sub-nationals to fold their hands and watch because Local Governments make up the State, just like States make up the Federation”,Governor Otti stated.

The Abia State Governor emphasized that it would amount to a gross act of irresponsibility on the part of the State Government to leave such critical issues as the payment of teachers’ and primary healthcare workers salaries ,as well as managing local security matters without the state assisting.

“What we have done in the state is to ensure that the Supreme court’s decision is implemented without creating hitches.

In essence, the law aims to improve the efficiency  of Governance at the grassroots level ,and effectively meet the needs of Abia residents”, Gov Otti noted.