Rivers sole administrator orders LG heads to submit 2-year activity reports

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), has instructed Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) across the state’s 23 councils to submit detailed reports of their activities over the past two years.

The directive was issued via a letter from Dame Dr. Itong Awani, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs. Reports suggest that the urgency of the request has unsettled many HLGAs, with speculations that the move may have political implications.

This development follows the Supreme Court’s ruling that nullified the 2024 local government elections, after which the suspended Governor Siminialayi Fubara instructed the HLGAs to assume control of local government administration.

The letter, which was made public on Wednesday, instructed the HLGAs to submit their reports to the Ministry of Local Government Affairs by March 26, 2025, for onward transmission to the Sole Administrator at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

The report format requires the HLGAs to provide details on:

The number of staff on the nominal roll, categorized by cadre.

Sources of revenue generation in the LGA.

Ongoing and completed projects within the past two years.

General achievements of the council.

Challenges faced by the local governments and recommendations for addressing them.

HLGAs have been directed to treat the directive with urgency and ensure timely submission, further fueling speculations about the motive behind the state government’s request.