Inyang, who is also Chairman of Yakurr LGA, was reacting to Jarvis’ allegation at a press conference at the NUJ Secretariat, Calabar, that LGAs are being starved of funds and that poverty is worsening at the grassroots.
He described the claim as unfounded and politically motivated.
“That’s a total fallacy because the local governments are having the best in terms of funding.
” In this administration, we have power to the level that local governments are doing projects and partnering with the state to intervene in critical areas such as health, sanitation, local security and infrastructural development,” he said.
The ALGON boss explained that the joint account authorized by an enabling law between the state and LGs has ensured stability, adding, “Without the joint account some LGAs won’t be able to pay salaries and handle running costs in some months because of low allocation.
“That is why in this administration no LGA is owing salary in the state.”
He cited ongoing projects in Yakurr and across the 18 LGAs as evidence that funds are being properly utilized, including road construction, farm road drainages, culverts, mini bridges, market rehabilitation and new PHCs.
“This is the first time in the history of Cross River that you have a governor who allows funds meant for local governments to be used to carry out developmental projects and interventions in our various wards,” he said, challenging Jarvis to provide facts to support his claims.
