By Solomon OKPO | The Evangelist News Desk
A fresh debate has emerged over the assessment of local government performance in Akwa Ibom State following a call by former House of Representatives spokesman, Eseme Eyiboh, for a transparent reassessment of Esit-Eket Local Government Area, which was reportedly classified among councils with unsatisfactory project execution and inadequate utilisation of statutory allocations.
In an open letter to the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, Eyiboh questioned the methodology, performance indicators and supporting evidence used by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in reaching its conclusions. He maintained that legislative oversight must be based on verifiable facts, transparent financial records and a fair evaluation of projects and public expenditure.
The controversy follows an inspection exercise conducted by the committee, chaired by Mfon Idung, across the state’s 31 local government areas between June 26 and July 17, 2026. While acknowledging the importance of legislative scrutiny in promoting accountability, Eyiboh argued that visiting all the councils does not automatically guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the resulting assessment.
To support his call, Eyiboh presented a list of projects and programmes he said had been undertaken by the Esit-Eket administration. They include the construction of Urua Ayu Market, renovation of Uquo Market and the council hall, landscaping of approximately 6,700 square metres of council premises, construction of three compassionate homes, and provision of 35 desktop computers for the council’s ICT centre.
He also cited the distribution of 10 motorcycles to commercial operators, four tricycles to assist farmers in transporting produce, and 10 wheelchairs for persons living with disabilities. Other programmes he listed included educational assistance to about 3,000 pupils, distribution of 10,000 exercise books and 150 cartons of chalk to 16 primary schools, and a holiday technology programme involving 130 students, with laptops reportedly awarded to the five best-performing participants.
On youth development and education, Eyiboh said four law students and one best graduating student of Heritage Polytechnic received ₦500,000 each, while six young people completed a six-month training programme at DASAK and received empowerment support. He also cited health insurance registration for 100 indigenes and more than ₦12 million reportedly spent on the continuing treatment of an individual.
Eyiboh, however, stressed that the list of projects should not be taken as conclusive proof of satisfactory performance. He called for the Assembly to verify the projects’ costs, implementation status, quality, beneficiaries and measurable impact, alongside relevant budgetary, procurement and expenditure records.
He argued that local government performance should extend beyond the appearance of council premises and the number of visible construction projects. According to him, assessments should also consider healthcare, education, agriculture, employment, livelihood support, environmental management, digital inclusion, disability assistance and community security.
The former federal lawmaker further called for scrutiny of the council’s reported community governance and security committees, which he said had more than 167 members and incurred approximately ₦8 million in monthly expenditure. He urged the Assembly to establish the committees’ mandates, approved costs, activities and measurable results.
The Assembly committee’s report reportedly acknowledged that statutory allocations now flow directly to local government councils under the financial autonomy framework and stated that it observed no interference by the state governor in council funds.
Eyiboh maintained that financial autonomy makes accountability at the grassroots even more important, insisting that councils must demonstrate how public resources translate into tangible benefits for residents. He also cautioned against treating administrative shortcomings, project delays, poor workmanship, financial irregularities and proven misuse of funds as identical findings, arguing that each requires specific evidence and an appropriate response.
The call for reassessment has placed the credibility of local government performance evaluations under renewed public scrutiny. However, Eyiboh’s claims do not, on their own, establish that the Assembly’s findings were incorrect, just as the projects and expenditure figures he presented require independent verification.
The key issue remains whether the Assembly can demonstrate that its assessment of Esit-Eket was conducted using consistent criteria, reliable financial documentation and evidence that can withstand public scrutiny. A response from the Assembly, alongside the publication or verification of relevant assessment records, would help clarify the issues raised and strengthen public confidence in legislative oversight across Akwa Ibom State.
