The leader of the 7th Osisioma Ngwa Legislative Council, Victor Ngwakwe, has lamented what he described as a growing wave of anger, hunger, and frustration among residents across Abia\u2019s local government areas, blaming the situation on the state\u2019s alleged tight control of local government funds.<\/p>\n
Ngwakwe, who represents Osokwa Ward, said that councillors in Osisioma Ngwa are under immense pressure from their constituents who expect them to deliver basic services despite the absence of direct funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur people are not asking for much. They just want the basic things government is supposed to do for them,\u201d he told reporters on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the grassroots don\u2019t know the people at the state level \u2014 they only have access to their councillors, who unfortunately have no funds to work with.\u201d<\/p>\n
He expressed deep concern that public confidence in local representatives was fading, particularly among elderly voters who no longer trust their councillors to deliver on campaign promises.<\/p>\n
Ngwakwe accused the Abia <\/a>State Government of violating the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Local Government Act by appropriating and spending local government allocations from Umuahia, instead of allowing councils to manage their own funds.<\/p>\n \u201cEverything is done at Government House in Umuahia, which is against what\u2019s clearly stated in the Constitution,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s only in Abia <\/a>that this section of the law is implemented 100% against local councils.\u201d<\/p>\n The lawmaker disclosed that councillors often resort to personal funds or private assistance to carry out even the smallest projects.<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever you see any councillor doing now is either funded personally or supported by a friend or political boss,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Ngwakwe urged Abia <\/a>residents to understand that local councillors are willing and ready to serve if granted access to statutory allocations.<\/p>\n \u201cThe funds allocated to Osisioma Ngwa are enough to show that we care for our people,\u201d he said. \u201cBut I must be clear \u2014 Abia <\/a>State controls the local government money, and we don\u2019t have access to our monthly allocations.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n