APC chieftain calls for greater accountability among LGA chairmen

Ralph Etim

An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in Akwa Ibom State, Mr UduakAbasi Ikpat, has called for greater accountability among local government chairmen, insisting that those who fail to translate public funds into tangible development should be held responsible for their actions.

Ikpat made the call amid growing national discussions on grassroots governance and local government autonomy, stressing that the performance of council administrations should be measured by the visible impact of their projects and programmes rather than the volume of funds they receive.

Speaking during an interview on Team Nigeria Classic, the APC stalwart said local government chairmen in Akwa Ibom State must be prepared to account for their stewardship and provide clear evidence of how public resources are being utilised for the benefit of residents.

According to him, public expectations are justified, particularly in light of the increased financial allocations now available to local governments under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Ikpat, a trained journalist and APC Ward Leader for Northern Iman II in Etinan Local Government Area, noted that the responsibility of council chairmen has become even greater because local government allocations in Akwa Ibom are reportedly accessed directly without interference from the state government.

He argued that with improved funding, residents should be witnessing significant development across rural communities, especially in critical sectors such as road infrastructure, electricity, primary healthcare, education, sanitation, water supply and other essential social amenities.

“The people deserve to see the results of governance,” adding, “Public officials entrusted with public funds have a duty to be transparent and must provide evidence of how available resources are being utilised,” he noted.

Ikpat maintained that the true measure of a local government’s performance lies in the quality and quantity of projects executed, as well as the extent to which such interventions improve the welfare and living standards of the people.

He further called for strict adherence to accountability and transparency standards within local government administration, warning that chairmen who fail to convert the substantial resources at their disposal into meaningful development should be held accountable for recurring shortcomings in the system.

The APC chieftain emphasised that strengthened accountability mechanisms would not only improve service delivery but also restore public confidence in grassroots governance across the state.