The Akwa Ibom State Government has publicly backed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive for direct federal funding to local government councils, aligning with broader efforts to strengthen fiscal autonomy at the grassroots level. State Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah stated that Governor Umo Eno has consistently supported financial independence for local councils, even before the Supreme Court ruled that allocations meant for local governments must be paid directly rather than through state governments.
Umanah noted that the state’s 31 local government areas have already benefited from enhanced development activities, with the governor refraining from interfering with council funds and allowing local authorities to execute projects, award contracts and run empowerment programmes independently. He described the president’s directive not merely as an instruction but a moral imperative to uphold the autonomy of the third tier of government and accelerate grassroots development.
Officials pointed to visible improvements in community services and infrastructure across the state, attributing these gains to the implementation of direct funding and the alignment of state policy with federal reforms aimed at deepening democratic accountability and transparency.
