A leaked government memo has revealed that the Sole Administrator appointed by President Bola Tinubu in Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (retd.), has directed all 23 local government councils to submit comprehensive reports on their activities, including revenue sources.
The directive, issued by the Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Dame Dr. Itong Awani, mandates all Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) to submit their reports by Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
The reports must provide an overview of council operations, staffing, revenue sources, and a record of ongoing and completed projects over the past two years, along with financial challenges faced by the councils.
According to the leaked memo, titled “SUBMISSION OF REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF YOUR COUNCILS,” the Permanent Secretary stated:
“His Excellency, the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, has directed that all Heads of Local Government Administration submit their Council Reports to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government Affairs.”
“All submissions must follow the specified format and reach the undersigned’s office on or before Wednesday, March 26, 2025, for onward transmission to the Sole Administrator at Government House, Port Harcourt, for further necessary action.”
The required submission format includes:
- Introduction/Preamble
- Functions of the Council
- Number of Staff on Nominal Roll (categorized by cadre)
- Sources of Revenue Generation in the LGA
- Council Activities (Ongoing and Completed Projects for the past two years)
- Achievements of the Council
- Challenges
- Recommendations and Conclusion
The memo emphasized urgency, urging local government officials to “treat as urgent and adhere strictly to the submission deadline.”
Political Tensions in Rivers State
Rivers State has been a hotspot of intense political conflict, particularly between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his former political ally, ex-Governor and current Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike.
The feud, initially centered on control over state resources and political appointments, escalated into a major crisis, with Wike’s loyalists in the Rivers State House of Assembly attempting to remove Fubara from office.
Despite a peace agreement brokered by President Tinubu in late 2023, tensions continued to simmer. In February 2025, the crisis peaked when the federal government declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, citing security concerns.
This move enabled Tinubu to install a Sole Administrator, a decision widely criticized as an attempt to weaken Governor Fubara’s influence and assert federal control over the state’s affairs.
Financial Scrutiny and Political Control
With Rivers State being a key economic hub due to its vast oil wealth, political analysts suggest that the new directive to audit local government finances could be a strategic attempt to tighten control over the state’s revenue streams.
