Peter Akpan
Niger Delta Liberation Force(NDLF) has challenged the Akwa Ibom State government over projects execution in 31 local government areas of the state upon the Federal Allocations to the councils, which are superintended by Gov. Udom Emmanuel.
The group in a statement on Tuesday, said the state under Emmanuel received over N200 billion between 2017 and September 2020 for the 31 local government areas.
According to the group, the state has collected close to N400 bilion from the 13 per cent oil derivation fund.
The statement signed by State Commander of NDLF, Captain Victor Eyoh and five others decried that local government councils in the state cannot embark on key projects because they are starved of funds by the state government.
It asked the government to publish the disbursements made to councils in the state as it was public knowledge that federal allocations to the 774 local government areas in the country usually pass through state governments.
The group also asked Emmanuel administration to mention projects executed in oil producing communities with the 13 per cent oil derivation fund.
“As a group fighting for justice and equity in the state, we are demanding for transparency and good governance; thus we are neither members of the opposition or its mouthpiece as alleged by the state commissioner for information and strategy.
”Since the state government claims it has not been tampering with local government funds, we hereby challenge it to publish bank details of all the disbursements to each of the local government councils within the period under review.
”We also challenge the government to publish the list of projects undertaken by any of the local government councils and also make public any development project the it has undertaken and commissioned in the oil producing communities utilizing the 13 per cent oil derivation fund,” he said.
In its reaction the state government through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Iniobong Ememobong, urged the group to get details of local government expenditure to the various council authorities.
Ememobong, however, advised the militant group to concentrate on grave matters affecting the Niger Delta region rather dissipate energy and time on issues that are not within the purview of the state government.
”They should ask the details of expenditure from the different LGAs. They should also differentiate the percentage of that amount went to payment of salaries and other obligatory financial engagements.
”The state cannot be made to answer for the LGs, just as the FG doesn’t answer for the state. Please ask this militant group whether they don’t travel along Calabar-Itu road?
”Please when will they ask the FG about Issues affecting the Niger Delta like the East west road, maritime university Oron, resource control, deep sea port, Calabar/Itu road etc,” he said.