Despite receiving N10.08 billion in statutory allocations in 19 months, the Mkpat Enin Local Government Council in Akwa Ibom State faces questions over the poor condition of its legislative building and other public facilities, amid concerns about fiscal transparency and accountability.
An inspection by the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs recently exposed the deteriorating state of the council’s legislative block, poor surroundings, poor sanitation and what lawmakers described as signs of weak institutional maintenance.
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The findings raise questions about how the council has managed public resources since its administration began, especially given claims by the Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno that local government areas in the state receive their monthly allocations directly without state government interference.
Data compiled by PREMIUM TIMES from published Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) reports show that Mkpat Enin received N10.08 billion between October 2024 when Governor Eno inaugurated local government chairpersons following the council elections and April 2026, the latest month for which FAAC allocation data has been published.
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The amount translates to an average monthly allocation of N530.54 million, excluding internally generated revenue from commercial centres such as Urua Akpo Udo Market and Ukam Market which is one of the biggest markets in Akwa Ibom.
FAAC records show that Mkpat Enin ranks as the fourth highest revenue-earning local government in Akwa Ibom after Uyo, Essien Udim and Ibiono Ibom.
Lawmakers question state of legislative complex
According to a report by TheMail Newspaper, members of the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, during an oversight visit to the council secretariat, expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the Legislative Council complex.
The lawmakers described the weather-beaten structure, ageing roof, overgrown vegetation and poor maintenance as inconsistent with a local government that now receives statutory allocations directly under the local government financial autonomy arrangement.
Committee members asked the council chairman, Emmanuel Inyang, to explain why the legislative chamber had remained in such condition.
Mr Inyang told the lawmakers he had instructed the leader of the legislative council in January to submit a proposal for the renovation of the legislative chamber but the proposal had yet to be submitted.
The explanation failed to convince the committee.
When invited to respond, the Leader of the Mkpat Enin Legislative Council, Nyakno Ekpo, reportedly offered no explanation for the delay.
The committee also raised concerns about the relationship between the executive and legislative arms of the council, warning that unnecessary friction could undermine governance and service delivery.
During the interaction, Mr Ekpo disclosed that only nine of the council’s 15 councillors had received furniture allowances from the chairman, prompting further questions from lawmakers over equity and transparency.
TheMail reports that residents who spoke anonymously also complained about the absence of functional public toilet facilities within the council secretariat.
The newspaper reports that during a visit to the secretariat, its reporter observed overgrown vegetation, stagnant pools of water, and poorly maintained surroundings.
Fiscal transparency concerns
The physical condition of the council facilities comes against the backdrop of concerns over compliance with Akwa Ibom State’s fiscal transparency law.
Akwa Ibom’s Fiscal Responsibility Law, codified as Volume III, Cap. 56 of the Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2022, requires all ministries, departments, agencies and local government councils to maintain functional online platforms for publishing key fiscal documents.
Section 47(2) of the law mandates public institutions to publish proposed and approved budgets, budget implementation reports, audited financial statements and other fiscal information.
However, PREMIUM TIMES found that Mkpat Enin Local Government does not operate a functional website where such documents are publicly available.
Searches of the websites operated by a few other councils and the state’s budget portal similarly did not produce approved budgets, budget performance reports or audited financial statements for any of the state’s 31 local government councils.
The absence of these documents made it impossible for PREMIUM TIMES to independently determine whether funds had been budgeted or released for the renovation of the legislative complex or other facilities.
It also prevented an independent assessment of how the council utilised the N10.08 billion received from the federation account during the review period.
PREMIUM TIMES previously reported that a civil society organisation called on the local government areas in Akwa Ibom State to publish their budgets as provided for in the State’s Fiscal Responsibility Law.
Not the first accountability concerns in Mkpat Enin
The latest concerns are not the first time Mkpat Enin Local Government has come under public scrutiny over the management of public resources.
In January 2022, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly suspended the then Chairman of Mkpat Enin, Aniekpon Ekpo, following allegations of misappropriating public funds and gross misconduct.
The suspension was based on the report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, which recommended disciplinary action against the council chairman.
Although the allegations related to a previous administration and are separate from the issues raised in this report, the recurrence of accountability concerns in the council points to the importance of fiscal transparency, proactive legislative oversight and public access to budget and spending records, particularly now that local governments are said to receive statutory allocations directly.
Chairman declines to respond
PREMIUM TIMES sent a media enquiry on 2 July via WhatsApp to Mr Inyang requesting explanations on the utilisation of the N10.08 billion received between October 2024 and April 2026.
The newspaper also requested copies of the council’s approved budgets for 2024, 2025 and 2026, budget implementation reports, audited financial statements, monthly revenue and expenditure reports, procurement records, internally generated revenue reports and documents relating to the proposed renovation of the legislative complex.
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The chairman was further asked to explain why the council had not complied with the fiscal transparency provisions of the Akwa Ibom Fiscal Responsibility Law and why public facilities, including the legislative complex and sanitation infrastructure, remained in poor condition despite the council’s financial resources.
Mr Inyang did not respond to the media enquiry as of the time of filing this report. He also did not respond to calls from our reporter.
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