Victor EzejaVice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Rivers State Sole Administrator, has ordered the heads of local government administration in each of the state’s 23 local government areas to submit reports on the councils’ operations.
According to Ibas, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs will receive the report from the heads of local government administration that were appointed by the suspended Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis was stated in a letter dated 24 March 2025, written by Itong Awani, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, and addressed to the HLGAs.
The directive was to be implemented in two days, as the letter titled “Re: Submission of Report of The Activities of Your Councils”, stated that the councils’ reports must be submitted by the heads of local government administration, latest Wednesday, 26 March 2025 (today).
Among the requirements that must be submitted are the roles played by councils, the number of employees listed on a nominal register, and the LGAs’ funding sources.
The letter reads: “His Excellency, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State has directed that all Heads of Local Government Administration should submit the Report of their Councils to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs.
“I am also to inform you that all submissions using the format listed below should reach the office of the undersigned on or before Wednesday, 26h March 2025 for onward transmission to the office of the Sole Administrator, Government House, Port Harcourt, for further necessary action.
“Submission template: Introduction/Preamble, Functions of the Council. Number of Staff on Nominal Roll, stating cadre by cadre, Sources of Revenue Generation in the LGA.
“Activities of the Council/On-going and Completed Projects for the past 2 years, Achievements of the Council, Challenges, Recommendations, Conclusion. Kindly treat as urgent and keep to the timeline of submission.”
It would be recalled that after the Supreme Court ruled on 28 February 2025 that the 2024 LG elections held by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RISEC) were invalid, Fubara ordered the elected Chairmen in the 23 LGAs to hand over to the HLGA.
Prior to Ibas’s appointment as sole administrator, RSIEC convened with political parties and other state stakeholders and set 9 August 2025, as the date for new local government elections.
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However, there are concerns over an alleged move by Ibas to appoint administrators to head the 23 local government areas.
Some who kicked against the alleged move argued that it is against the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the recent Supreme Court judgment affirming the autonomy of Local governments.
The apex court ruling on local government autonomy held that the local councils shall be administered by democratically elected officials, frowning at the appointment of caretaker officials, which some states had done over the years.
It also stated that allocations of states without elected local council officials should be withheld.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
