In response to accusations from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) concerning purported interference in local government finances, the Abia State government has called on union members to rein in their leadership, urging caution against what it describes as “unfounded and sensational claims.” The allegation in question, contained in a letter to the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, suggested that Governor Alex Otti was advancing a bill to cede 90 percent of local government funds to the state, leaving councils with a scant 10 percent.
The state’s rebuttal, issued by Governor Otti’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, characterized the NLC’s accusations as spurious and “prematurely aired,” citing misinformation and political influence. Ekeoma highlighted that the bill under review actually seeks to establish the Abia State Rural Access Road Agency—a joint initiative with the World Bank aimed at infrastructure development. Such measures, he clarified, necessitate shared funding between state and local governments but involve no reallocation of control over local government funds.
The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Austin Okezie Meregini, has also weighed in, dismissing claims that the House intended to compromise local autonomy, asserting that no members staged a walkout over the bill, contrary to certain reports. He reaffirmed that the proposed legislation adheres to Supreme Court rulings on local government autonomy and noted that similar laws exist in Ebonyi, Kwara, and Sokoto States.
In a pointed response to the NLC, Ekeoma questioned why union leaders failed to seek clarification before casting aspersions on the administration. He suggested the union’s approach reflected “media clout chasing” rather than “pro-people altruism” and argued that Abians deserve an informed dialogue rather than “cheap distractions and falsehood.”
The statement concludes with a call for calm, pledging the administration’s commitment to reforms and development, while cautioning against baseless antagonism that could detract from Abia’s progress.
