In a sweeping move to assess local governance, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has directed Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) in all 23 local government areas to submit comprehensive reports on their councils’ activities.
The directive, issued through a letter dated March 24, 2025, and signed by Itong Awani, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, mandates HLGAs—specifically those appointed by suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara—to provide detailed accounts of their respective councils’ operations. The reports are to be submitted to the Ministry of Local Government Affairs for review before being forwarded to the Government House in Port Harcourt for further action.
Scope of the Reports
According to the letter titled “Re: Submission of Report of the Activities of Your Councils”, the report must include Council Functions, Staff Strength (Nominal Roll, categorized by cadre), Revenue Sources of the LGAs, Ongoing and Completed Projects (Past Two Years), Achievements, Challenges, and Recommendations.
The deadline for submission is Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
Emphasizing the urgency of the directive, the letter stated:
“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.”
This development follows a major restructuring in Rivers State’s local government system. The Supreme Court’s annulment of the 2024 local government elections conducted by the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) had led Governor Fubara to order the handover of LGAs to HLGAs.
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However, before Vice Admiral Ibas assumed office as Sole Administrator, RSIEC had already scheduled fresh local government elections for August 9, 2025, following consultations with political parties and stakeholders.
The mandatory LGA audit is expected to shed light on local governance performance, financial management, and project execution over the past two years. It also signals a push for accountability as the state moves toward fresh elections.
As Rivers State navigates this political and administrative shift, observers believe the findings from these reports could influence upcoming governance reforms and electoral decisions in the state.