The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State has described the passage of the state’s Local Government Amendment Bill, 2025, by the state House of Assembly as an evil plot by Governor Bassey Otu-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government.
The PDP asserted the legislation is meant to plunder resources meant for grassroots development. This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Calabar through its Publicity Secretary, Prince Mike Ojisi.
The party, which condemns what it called the hasty passage of the Local Government Amendment Bill, 2025, described it as a legislative ambush and a direct contradiction of the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy.
It also said in the statement that the bill is an orchestrated scheme to arm-twist, emasculate, and misappropriate local government resources.
“Despite widespread public condemnation, the House proceeded with the bill, defending her actions by wrongly relying on Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution, which merely empowers states to enact laws for local government administration.
“It (state assembly) said that this was not to undermine their autonomy or divert their funds.
“The PDP identifies several draconian and exploitative provisions within the bill, which place an unbearable financial burden on the 18 local government areas of Cross River State.
“They include, unauthorized monthly deduction of one percent for House of Assembly oversight functions, expansion of statutory political appointees under each local government chairman from 25 to 50 persons, thereby increasing the financial strain on already underfunded councils,” the PDP said.
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It mentioned the others draconian sections of the law as 0.5 percent deduction for the office of the state auditor general, ₦1 million mandatory monthly contribution from each local government to the Cross River State Reserve Fund and 0.5 percent deduction for the state community and social development agency.
The PDP also pointed to the one percent deduction to fund the University of Cross River State, four percent deduction for the Cross River State Road Maintenance Agency as other sections of the bill that are anti-local government autonomy.
“The financial autonomy of local governments is sacrosanct and must not be subjected to the manipulative whims of the state government.
“The hasty passage and signing of this law reveal a desperate attempt to siphon local government funds for political patronage ahead of the 2027 elections.
“The people of Cross River State must resist this oppressive, anti-development, and unconstitutional law through all legal and democratic means,” it added.
The party described the law as a daylight robbery of local government funds under the guise of legislative amendments.
