Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu
Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Cross River State, Chief Yibala Inyang, has dismissed allegations that local government councils in the state are being underfunded, insisting that the 18 councils are enjoying unprecedented financial support, administrative freedom and collaboration with the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
Inyang, who also serves as Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area, made the remarks on Thursday, August 13, 2026, while responding to claims by the factional Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis. Jarvis had alleged during a press briefing at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Calabar that local councils were being deprived of funds, worsening poverty at the grassroots.
Rejecting the allegations, Inyang described them as baseless, arguing that the current administration has empowered local governments to execute projects and partner with the state in critical sectors, including healthcare, sanitation, security and infrastructure.
> “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.
The ALGON chairman explained that the state’s joint state-local government account, backed by legislation, has improved financial coordination, enabling councils to meet salary obligations and operational costs despite fluctuating federal allocations.
> “Without the joint account, some LGAs won’t be able to pay salaries and handle the running cost in some months because of low allocation. The reason why in this administration no LGA is owing salary in the state,” he stated.
According to him, the true measure of local government autonomy lies in the ability of councils to access and prudently utilise available resources, settle workers’ salaries promptly, deliver essential services and undertake projects that directly benefit residents, rather than political narratives.
He maintained that Governor Otu’s administration has granted local councils enough freedom to embark on developmental projects across their communities, describing the approach as unprecedented in the state’s history.
> “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,” he said.
Using Yakurr Local Government as an example, Inyang said his administration had either completed or commenced projects in 12 of the area’s 13 wards based on community priorities.
He listed completed and ongoing projects to include the construction and rehabilitation of roads, culverts and drainage systems, markets, healthcare facilities, sports infrastructure and empowerment programmes.
Among the projects, he said, are several culverts in Ekori, a mini bridge in Nko, the rehabilitation of the Nko Modern Market and the construction of a new modern market in Ekori. He also disclosed that multiple culverts, including a double-decker culvert near the General Hospital in Ugep, had been reconstructed after collapsing before his administration assumed office.
The council chairman further revealed that work is ongoing on a new Primary Healthcare Centre in Ijiman Ward through a partnership between the community and the local government. He added that a mini pavilion at Ugep Stadium has been completed, while another at Mkpani is nearing completion. The Ugep Stadium, he said, has also been rehabilitated, with new drainage facilities constructed to tackle flooding.
He noted that the council is preparing to rehabilitate facilities in several schools, while the state government is complementing the council’s efforts with major road projects in Ugep Urban, with similar interventions expected in Ekori and Idomi.
Inyang stressed that similar developmental projects are ongoing across the state’s 18 local government areas, insisting that council allocations are being utilised to improve the welfare of residents.
He challenged critics alleging diversion of local government funds to provide credible evidence instead of making politically motivated accusations.
Addressing claims of worsening poverty at the grassroots, Inyang cited the consistent payment of salaries and imprest to council workers as proof of sound financial management.
> “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. If anybody is saying so, they should bring out facts and show how far the local government is owing,” he said.
On security, the ALGON chairman said local government chairmen have continued to work closely with the state government to address communal conflicts and other security challenges, noting that the partnership has helped prevent local crises from escalating into wider threats across the state.
Looking ahead to the 2027 governorship election, Inyang urged opposition politicians to focus on presenting practical solutions instead of what he described as campaigns built on blackmail and misinformation.
> “If they really have the interest of this state, if they think they really want to govern this state, let them tell us what we’ve not done and how well they’ll do it if given the opportunity,” he said.
He pointed to the restoration of Cross River’s oil-producing status, the recovery of Tinapa and renewed attention to the state’s agricultural estates as some of the achievements of the Otu administration.
Responding directly to Arthur Jarvis’ proposal to serve only one term if elected governor, Inyang questioned his readiness for the office, arguing that running a state requires broad administrative and political experience.
> “I don’t think he is fit to run half a term, not to talk of one full term. Arthur Jarvis should first prove that he can run government, not run a school. Governance of a state is more in-depth and requires enough experience and exposure in various political and public offices of high repute,” he said.
He concluded by describing Governor Bassey Edet Otu as a prudent and people-focused leader whose administration has delivered visible development across the state.
> “Our Governor, His Excellency Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has demonstrated the qualities of a prudent administrator with a people-oriented governance mentality. His achievements within this first tenure can attest to the fact that he is the real person Cross River State deserves at the moment,” he said.
