Ripples over Alleged Release of N1bn Each To Imo LGAs

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Claim by the Imo State government that it has doled out N1bn each to Local Government Areas LGAs in the state for developmental projects is raising dust at the grassroots level.

At the swearing-in of commissioners and LGA Transition Committee members in the state two weeks ago, Okorocha informed the public that he has released N1bn each to the various LGAs. Imo State has 27 LGAs making it N27b.

Following the pronouncement, all the LGAs held a stakeholders meeting with the sole purpose of discussing on how to handle and manage the billions from the state government. The stakeholders comprising government appointees, traditional rulers and residents of the communities met to review how the money will be spent.

Trumpeta however learnt that the various LGAs are yet to see the billions of naira since none is yet to execute any capital project of that magnitude.

Sources at the councils disclosed that a week after, there is nothing to suggest the billions have been released. Rather, what was gathered to have been made available to the councils is N 120m meant for payment of worker’s salaries and grading or roads for the festive season.

Instead of discussing the projects one billion naira can execute, the target of LGAs is road construction and grading thereby indicating that the billions are yet come into their coffers.

Most of the council officials confronted were unable to speak on the matter, but could not hide the report that their focus is centered on road grading.