By CHARLES IWUOHA

The leader of the Osisioma Ngwa Legislative Council in Abia State, Hon. Victor Ngwakwe, has resigned from his position after alleging that the Abia State Government has completely taken over local government finances, leaving councillors powerless and without funds to execute basic community projects.

Ngwakwe, who represents Osokwa Ward, expressed frustration over the continuous denial of access to local government funds, saying the development has crippled governance at the grassroots level.

Speaking weekend on his decision to step down, Ngwakwe said: ?Our people are not asking for much. They just want the basic things government is supposed to do for them. But the grassroots don?t know the people at the state level ? they only have access to their councillors, who unfortunately have no funds to work with.?

He accused the state government of violating the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and the Local Government Act by taking full control of local government allocations from Umuahia, instead of allowing councils to manage their own finances.

?Everything is done at Government House in Umuahia, which is against what?s clearly stated in the Constitution,? he added.

Ngwakwe?s resignation has drawn attention to the long-standing issue of local government autonomy in Abia State. Many councillors have reportedly complained of financial restrictions that make it difficult to carry out their responsibilities to their communities.

Another councillor, who spoke anonymously, confirmed the claim, revealing that councillors are paid as little as N240,000 monthly, with no involvement in budget or project decisions.

?What we?re being paid is N240,000 as councillors, and it?s not helping matters. We don?t participate in projects, we don?t know how much funding is allocated or how it?s being spent. We don?t even know how much comes into the council,? the councillor lamented.

He further stated that councillors in Abia do not perform their constitutional duties, such as budget approval, oversight, or fund appropriation. ?We don?t pass the budget, we don?t appropriate or oversee funds. We just wake up to see that a project has started somewhere without our knowledge,? he added.

The councillor disclosed that the crisis in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area intensified after Ngwakwe publicly questioned how councils receive over N400 million monthly, yet councillors only get small stipends.

?That?s why they insisted that our leader must resign. He posted that we don?t even know how the local government gets N500 million or N400 million, and still, we end up with N240,000. So he resigned a few days ago,? he said.

The source also criticized what he described as the growing ?sycophancy? among councillors in the state, adding that many are afraid to speak up for fear of political backlash. ?Sycophancy is too common among councillors here in Abia State,? he lamented.

The Abia State Government has yet to issue an official response regarding Ngwakwe?s resignation or the allegations. However, political observers suggest that the controversy could reignite calls for greater local government autonomy and accountability in the state.

For now, the deputy leader of the Osisioma Ngwa Legislative Council has assumed the position of acting leader pending further decisions by the council.

The councillors? association in the state is yet to make a public statement on the development.

Update news