The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has petitioned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and copied the Accountant General of the Federation, calling for an immediate suspension of local government allocations to Rivers State over alleged constitutional violations by the Sole Administrator of the State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (rtd) and breach of the recent Supreme Court Judgement of Local Government administration in the States.
In a letter signed by HEDA’s Chairman, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, addressed to the CBN Governor, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, the civil society organization decried the recent actions of the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, who was appointed following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in March 2025.
According to HEDA’s petition, the Sole Administrator unlawfully sacked all elected local government chairmen on April 9 and replaced them with appointed administrators, an action HEDA described as a “flagrant breach” of Section 7 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees democratically elected local government councils.
The group further cited the recent Supreme Court ruling in AG Federation v. AG Abia State & Ors (2024) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1966) 1, which reinforced the constitutional requirement that local governments must be administered by democratically elected officials. The court had unequivocally declared that any governance of local government areas by appointed caretakers or administrators is unconstitutional, illegal, and of no effect.
Suraju emphasized that both the administration and financial management of local governments fall strictly within the purview of elected councils. He asserted that continued disbursement of local government allocations by the CBN to unelected officials in Rivers State is a violation of the Supreme Court’s ruling and the Nigerian Constitution.
“The law is settled; local governments must be run by elected officials. Any disbursement of funds to unconstitutional administrators not only contravenes Section 7 of the Constitution but also undermines the rule of law.” Suraju stated in the letter.
HEDA demanded that the CBN, as custodian of public funds, suspend all local government allocations to Rivers State until democratically elected councils are restored. Copies of the petition were also sent to the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Shamsedeen Ogunjimi.
“We expect prompt action from your office in compliance with the Constitution and the apex court’s decision. Anything short of this is a blatant disregard for democratic governance and the rule of law,” the petition concluded.
HEDA, known for its anti-corruption advocacy and human rights work, has consistently called for transparency and accountability in the administration of public resources at all levels of government.
