The Abia State House of Assembly has clarified that it has not approved any legislation that would centralize local government funding or undermine their financial autonomy.
The Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon Austin Okezie, firmly rejected claims of a bill aimed at creating a Central Management Agency for local government funds, branding such reports as false.
Okezie explained that the House’s recent discussions focused on the “Abia State Rural Access Road Agency” (ASRARA) bill, which aims to establish a body for managing rural road projects in partnership with the World Bank under the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP).
He pointed out that this initiative has already been adopted by 19 states, including Ebonyi and Sokoto, and is designed to improve rural infrastructure.
The Deputy Speaker emphasized the importance of local governments in this project, stating that the ASRARA bill is essential for accessing necessary funding for rural roads, as these roads primarily fall under the jurisdiction of local authorities.
He dismissed rumours of a walkout by members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the deliberation, clarifying that the absence of some members was due to personal matters unrelated to the bill’s discussions.
Okezie urged the public to refrain from spreading misinformation, noting that social media has been rife with unfounded claims about the Assembly’s stance on local government autonomy.
He reassured the citizens of Abia that the Assembly’s initiatives are designed to benefit the state’s residents, urging them to recognize the positive impact of such legislative efforts.
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