Allow Local Governments function independently – Former Minister Ikoh comes hard on governors, questions utilisation of “N30b” Federal Allocation by Abia Government

Former Minister of State for Science and Technology Chief Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh has said the refusal of state governors in Nigeria to allow Local Government enjoy financial autonomy and have direct access to their funds from federal allocation accruals is a clog in the wheel of progress in governance structure and in delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

Speaking to newsmen, Chief Ikoh who used Abia as case in point, asserted that the state receives nothing short of 30 billion naira monthly from the federation account which include both state and local government allocation, stressing that work so far by the present administration is not commensurate with what Abia has received.

He maintained that allowing the local government tier to function independently with full access to their money will amount to what he described as win-win situation for the people as governance will automatically trickle down to the grassroots, complementing the efforts of the federal government.

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The former Minister further reiterated his support for the Bola Tinubu administration, stressing that the economy is gradually stabilizing especially with the mechanisms put in place by the current federal government including the unification of exchange rate, investment in agriculture amongst others.

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