Civil Society Group Holds Delta LGAs Accountable for N7bn Allocation
WARRI — A Delta State-based civil society organization, the Initiative for Social Rights Concerns and Advancements (ISRCA), has demanded that all 25 Local Government Council chairmen in the state immediately prioritize infrastructure, healthcare, and education projects using a recently released N7 billion allocation.
The directive follows the Delta State Government’s announcement of the N7 billion fund, reportedly sourced from the state’s 2026 budget and released to Local Government Areas (LGAs). ISRCA National Coordinator Derrick Agberen stated that council chairmen have “no excuses” for poor performance, citing a key federal policy reform that now channels funds directly to LGA accounts, bypassing state governments.
“Given the Federal Government of Nigeria’s implemented measures… local government council chairmen in Delta State lack rationale for under-performance,” Agberen said in a statement. He noted that this direct funding system is designed to reduce state-level corruption and interference, granting chairmen autonomous control over resources.
The group asserted that every LGA allocation must be publicly published, as citizens have a right to know how funds are spent. ISRCA warned that chairmen will be held accountable for development—or the lack thereof—in their jurisdictions after their tenure. It criticized the persistent scarcity of quality grassroots projects across many areas, despite the financial autonomy now available from both federal and state sources.
The statement specified that chairmen should focus on delivering critical services such as road construction, healthcare facilities, street lighting, and surveillance systems, all of which contribute to grassroots safety and crime prevention. ISRCA also urged Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to establish a dedicated project monitoring committee for all 25 LGAs. This committee, the group suggested, would help ensure the judicious utilization of the allocated funds, which ISRCA estimates could total up to N175 billion if replicated across subsequent budgets.
The organization’s stance underscores a growing push for transparency and results at the local government level in Nigeria, where citizens often see minimal impact from public funding despite constitutional responsibilities for basic service delivery.
