By Tgnews Reporter, Yola
Citizens and stakeholders in Adamawa State have voiced growing outrage over the alleged “consistent depletion” of local government funds by the administration of Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, undermining the purported financial autonomy granted to the 21 local government areas (LGAs).
Critics claim the state government employs various tactics to siphon resources, compelling LGAs to sponsor or co-fund projects that should fall under state responsibility, leaving chairmen with insufficient funds for grassroots needs. This, they argue, not only hampers local development but also exposes the hollowness of the administration’s autonomy rhetoric, reducing it to mere paperwork.
Anonymous sources described the situation as “giving with the right hand and collecting with the left,” asserting that true autonomy exists only on paper. One insider revealed that LG chairmen, many handpicked by the state, are silently frustrated and fearful of speaking out due to risks of removal, despite increased allocations.
A key grievance centers on monthly deductions of N500,000 from each LGA for state-led sanitation programs, totaling N10.5 million across the state—funds allegedly diverted under guises like environmental initiatives. Sources questioned the authenticity of autonomy, calling the practice deceptive and a barrier to tangible local projects.
State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mohammed Sadiq Mohammed, confirmed the sanitation levies but defended them as minimal compared to the costs of operations, such as hiring equipment for refuse evacuation in areas like Yola’s Wurro Hausa. He noted that contributions extend beyond LGAs to banks and businesses as corporate social responsibility, with the ministry handling sanitation execution.
“The levy is included in allocations and used for essential services; it’s less significant than the expenses involved,” Mohammed stated, adding that state funding sometimes supplements shortfalls.
The controversy contrasts with official narratives from the Fintiri administration, which has repeatedly touted LG financial independence since 2019 as a campaign promise fulfilled ahead of the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling.
Officials like Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ibrahim Mijinyawa, and aides have praised the policy for driving grassroots development, with LGs independently funding community projects.
However, detractors argue these deductions reveal ongoing interference, echoing past federal-state tensions over revenue sharing.
As debates intensify, calls grow for transparency in LGA finances and stricter adherence to autonomy, with stakeholders warning that unresolved issues could erode trust in local governance and hinder Adamawa’s development goals.
