The Leader of the Seventh Osisioma Ngwa Legislative Council, Victor Ngwakwe, has raised alarm over the worsening hardship in Abia State’s local governments, blaming the state’s alleged seizure of council funds for rising frustration among residents.
Ngwakwe, who represents Osokwa Ward, said councillors are under “immense pressure” from constituents who expect delivery of essential services, even though they have no direct access to statutory allocations.
“Our people are not asking for much — they just want the basic things government is supposed to do for them,” he said. “But the grassroots don’t know the people at the state level; they only know their councillors, who unfortunately have no funds to work with.”
He expressed concern that public trust in local representatives was fading, especially among elderly voters disillusioned by unfulfilled promises.
Ngwakwe accused the Abia State Government of violating the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Local Government Act, alleging that all allocations are controlled and disbursed from Government House, Umuahia.
“Everything is done at Government House, which is against what’s clearly stated in the Constitution. It’s only in Abia that this section of the law is implemented 100% against local councils,” he lamented.
The lawmaker revealed that many councillors now rely on personal savings or private assistance to fund small projects.
“Whatever you see any councillor doing now is either funded personally or supported by a friend or political boss,” he said.
Ngwakwe urged the state to release local funds to enable councils to meet community needs.
“The funds allocated to Osisioma Ngwa are enough to show that we care for our people — but we simply don’t have access to them,” he concluded.