The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Cross River State chapter, Chief Yibala Inyang, has defended the financial management of the state’s 18 local government councils, saying they are enjoying unprecedented funding, administrative freedom and cooperation under Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
Inyang, who is also Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area, spoke on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at the NUJ Secretariat in Calabar while reacting to allegations by factional PDP governorship candidate, Sir Arthur Jarvis, that councils were being underfunded and poverty was worsening at the grassroots.
He dismissed the allegations as unfounded, saying councils now have greater access to their resources and are implementing projects in partnership with the state government in areas including healthcare, sanitation, security and infrastructure. He added that the joint state and local government account had improved financial coordination and helped councils meet salary and operational obligations.
According to Inyang, no local government in Cross River is currently owing workers’ salaries. He argued that the true measure of local government autonomy should be the ability of councils to access and responsibly use funds, pay workers promptly, provide social services and execute projects that directly benefit residents.
Using Yakurr as an example, Inyang said projects had been executed or commenced in 12 of the council’s 13 wards. He listed roads, drainages, culverts, markets, healthcare facilities, recreational infrastructure and empowerment programmes among the interventions, including projects in Ekori, Nko, Ijom and Ugep.
He further disclosed that a new Primary Healthcare Centre was being constructed in Ijiman Ward, Ugep, while the Ugep Stadium had been rehabilitated and drainage works undertaken to tackle flooding. He said the council was also preparing to rehabilitate facilities in some schools, with the state government complementing local efforts through major road projects.
The ALGON chairman maintained that similar development projects were ongoing across other local government areas and challenged critics alleging diversion or underfunding of council resources to provide verifiable evidence. He also cited regular payment of salaries and imprest to workers as evidence of improved financial administration.
On security, Inyang said local government chairmen had remained actively involved in addressing communal conflicts and other security challenges within their jurisdictions. He stressed that cooperation between the state and local governments was essential because security threats could spread across council boundaries and affect the entire state.
Ahead of the 2027 elections, Inyang urged opposition politicians to abandon what he described as politics of blackmail and misinformation and instead present clear programmes to voters. He defended Governor Otu’s record, citing efforts to restore Cross River’s oil producing status, reclaim Tinapa and revive agricultural estates. He also criticised Arthur Jarvis’ one term governorship ambition, questioning his administrative experience, and described Governor Otu as a prudent and people oriented leader capable of continuing to develop the state.
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