Kehinde Fajobi
The Abia State House of Assembly has dismissed rumours suggesting that the state intends to seize local government funds.
Deputy Speaker Austin Nmeregini addressed the press on Thursday, clarifying that the claims about a law being passed to form a “Central Management Agency” for local government funds are completely false.
“There is a bill before the House, but the rumours that we passed a law to form a ‘Central Management Agency’ for local government funds are entirely false,” Nmeregini said, explaining that the bill in question, introduced by the governor, is intended to benefit local governments without taking control of their funds or violating local government autonomy as ruled by the Supreme Court.
Nmeregini also emphasised that no bill was passed on Wednesday, countering claims of an opposition walkout during the session.
“There was no walkout. All members, including the opposition, were present during the session,” he said.
The Deputy Speaker explained that the bill is for the creation of the Abia State Rural Access Road Agency, part of the World Bank’s Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), which is already in place in states like Ebonyi, Kwara, and Sokoto.
He assured that while both state and local governments are expected to contribute to road construction, this will not affect the local governments’ access to their own funds.
“Local governments will still receive their funds, but they are required to contribute to road construction,” Nmeregini added.
Addressing concerns over local government elections, Nmeregini clarified that a recent law amendment requires mayors to resign 30 days before the election to be eligible, as required by Nigerian law. He noted that Governor Otti did not seek further amendments to favour certain mayors, underscoring his respect for the law.
Nmeregini also dismissed rumours of Labour Party members defecting to the Zenith Labour Party as “fake news.”
He stated, “We are presently in the Labour Party. We are going nowhere, and for that worry, it is fake news. We are in the Labour Party, and our governor is still in the Labour Party.”
He urged the public to disregard misinformation intended to stir chaos in the state legislature.