OPEN LETTER TO THE SPEAKER, AKWA IBOM STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

OPEN LETTER TO THE SPEAKER, AKWA IBOM STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY

By Rt Hon Eseme Eyiboh MNIPR

WHEN OVERSIGHT FALLS SHORT OF EVIDENCE: A CALL FOR A FAIR, TRANSPARENT AND CREDIBLE RE-ASSESSMENT OF ESIT EKET LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA.

Mr Speaker, Sir,

THE AUTHORITY OF OVERSIGHT MUST REST ON THE INTEGRITY OF EVIDENCE

I write to respectfully draw your attention to the report of the House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, chaired by Rt. Hon. Mfon Idung, following its inspection tour of the 31 local government areas of Akwa Ibom State between June 26 and July 17, 2026. My particular concern is the inclusion of Esit Eket Local Government Area among councils reportedly demonstrating unsatisfactory project execution and inadequate utilisation of statutory allocations.

I write in my capacity as a former member and Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, a distinguished son of Esit Eket, a stakeholder in its development and an active participant in the affairs of the local government area.

My intervention is guided by a fundamental democratic principle: the credibility of legislative oversight depends not merely on the authority to investigate, but equally on the integrity of the evidence, fairness of the process and soundness of the conclusions reached.

I support effective legislative oversight without reservation. It is indispensable to democratic accountability, prudent public expenditure and the protection of the public interest. Having served in the National Assembly, I understand that oversight is a constitutional responsibility, not a ceremonial exercise or an instrument for dispensing praise or blame.

It is precisely because I recognise and respect this responsibility that aspects of the committee’s report deserve closer examination. An inspection may cover all local government areas and fall squarely within the legislature’s mandate, yet still raise legitimate questions about its methodology, evidential foundation and fairness.

The classification of Esit Eket as an underperforming council therefore warrants a more comprehensive review, particularly in view of the numerous development interventions undertaken by its current administration.

Oversight must be rigorous enough to expose failure, fair enough to recognise progress and transparent enough to command public confidence and trust.

A TOUR OF 31 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IS NOT, BY ITSELF, PROOF OF COMPREHENSIVE OVERSIGHT

Mr Speaker, the committee deserves recognition for undertaking an inspection tour of all 31 local government areas. However, the number of locations visited cannot, by itself, establish the reliability, depth or comprehensiveness of the resulting assessment. The pertinent questions are straightforward: What performance indicators guided the exercise? What evidence informed the conclusions? What benchmarks were applied? Did the assessment account for the differing development needs, financial circumstances, budgetary priorities and project commitments of individual councils?

From the report as publicly presented, the assessment framework and supporting evidence are not sufficiently clear. What template guided the exercise? What financial period was examined? Were statutory allocations reconciled with approved budgets, expenditure records, procurement documents and the actual status of projects? Were completed, ongoing and planned projects properly distinguished? What measurable criteria determined satisfactory or inadequate performance? How was information supplied by council officials independently verified against documentary evidence, physical project conditions and community impact?

These are not questions intended to obstruct oversight. They are questions that strengthen it. Any public assessment carrying significant reputational and institutional consequences should be capable of explaining how its conclusions were reached and the evidence upon which they rest. I am equally concerned that the publicly presented exercise does not clearly demonstrate the framework for stakeholder participation. Local government administration directly affects residents, traditional institutions, community development associations, professional groups, civil society organisations and other stakeholders whose knowledge may contribute to a fuller understanding of project implementation and public benefit.

I do not suggest that every inspection must become a public hearing. I submit, however, that an assessment of this significance should provide appropriate channels for receiving, scrutinising and verifying relevant community evidence.

Without a transparent methodology, citizens are left to accept conclusions without understanding the standards by which their local government has been judged.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IS A DEVELOPMENTAL INSTITUTION, NOT MERELY AN ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE.

Local government exists to bring governance closer to the people, address rural development deficits and promote the welfare, security and prosperity of citizens. Its effectiveness should therefore be assessed against its statutory responsibilities and the public value generated by its activities.

Evaluation cannot reasonably be reduced to the appearance of administrative premises or the number of visible construction projects. It must embrace infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, livelihood support, environmental improvement, digital inclusion and community security.

Some interventions produce physical assets; others invest in human capital, support vulnerable citizens, strengthen livelihoods or address needs that may not be captured by a narrow infrastructure checklist. A council may construct buildings while neglecting the welfare of its people. Equally, a council may combine physical development with educational assistance, healthcare support, agricultural mobility and programmes designed to improve the lives of vulnerable residents.

A credible performance assessment must recognise these distinctions without compromising the scrutiny of expenditure, implementation and outcomes. This distinction is particularly relevant to Esit Eket Local Government. The current Esit Eket administration has reportedly undertaken interventions across several of these developmental areas. Their existence, cost, implementation and outcomes should be examined against the relevant records before a definitive judgment is made.

ESIT EKET’S DEVELOPMENT RECORD: PROJECTS AND INTERVENTIONS THAT DESERVE FACTUAL EXAMINATION.

As a stakeholder who follows developments in Esit Eket, I consider it necessary to place before the House of Assembly a number of projects and programmes that merit specific examination in any re-assessment of the council’s performance. I do not present their existence as conclusive proof that every expenditure was proper or that every programme achieved its intended objectives. Rather, I submit that they constitute material information that should be verified and considered before the council’s overall developmental performance is conclusively characterised.

1. Construction of Urua Ayu Market
For the avoidance of doubt, Urua Ayu Market was built, not merely renovated. This distinction is important to an accurate account of the administration’s infrastructure record.
The project should be assessed on the basis of its scope, expenditure, construction records, completion status and benefits to traders and the surrounding community. Its classification and description should accurately reflect the work undertaken.

2. Renovation of Uquo Market
In addition to the construction of Urua Ayu Market. The administration intentionally undertook the renovation of Uquo Market. This is a separate intervention and should be independently examined in terms of the nature of the renovation, the resources committed, the quality of the work and the market’s usefulness to traders and residents. The distinction between the construction of one market and the renovation of another should be maintained in any factual account of the council’s projects.

3. Construction of Three Compassionate Homes
The administration reportedly constructed three compassionate homes of one in each of Zones A, B and C, as part of its social welfare interventions.
Housing assistance for persons in need represents a dimension of local government responsibility that deserves consideration alongside conventional infrastructure. A proper assessment should establish the circumstances of the projects, their costs, completion status, intended beneficiaries and the extent to which they have delivered the anticipated social benefit. If verified, these homes should form part of the council’s record of interventions directed towards human welfare and social inclusion.

4. Landscaping of the Council Premises
The council administration reportedly undertook landscaping of its premises covering approximately 6,700 square metres. The project represents an investment in the physical environment and aesthetic value of the local government secretariat. Its scope, expenditure, quality and maintenance requirements should be assessed objectively. It is surprising that a particular local government council whose only major achievement is landscaping of the council secretariat was classified as a performing LGA, while Esit Eket which undertook a wider area of landscaping, together with other numerous life touching projects was said to be underperforming. In my view, landscaping alone may not establish a satisfactory overall performance. But it should neither be disregarded where it constitutes a verifiable project undertaken with public resources.

5. Renovation of the Council Hall
The renovation of the Council Hall is another intervention requiring specific consideration.
The assessment should establish the condition of the facility before the work, the nature of the renovation, the cost incurred and the resulting improvement in its functionality for legislative, administrative, community and other official engagements. A balanced assessment must distinguish between administrative facilities requiring improvement and the wider developmental performance of the council.

6. Equipping the Council ICT Centre with 35 Desktop Computers
The administration reportedly furnished the council’s ICT centre with 35 desktop computers. This intervention deserves examination not merely as a procurement exercise but also in terms of its intended contribution to digital capacity, access to information technology and administrative efficiency. The relevant records should establish the computers supplied, procurement expenditure, operational status and extent of utilisation. If verified and effectively deployed, the facility could contribute to the council’s digital capacity and the development of technology-related skills.

7. Livelihood Support, Agricultural Mobility and Disability Inclusion
The administration reportedly provided 10 motorcycles, four tricycles and 10 wheelchairs to identify beneficiaries. The motorcycles assisted commercial operators whose existing motorcycles had become unserviceable. The tricycles supported farmers transporting produce from farms to towns and markets, while the wheelchairs were provided to persons living with physical disabilities.
These interventions were directed towards identifiable practical needs: sustaining commercial livelihoods, facilitating the movement of agricultural produce and improving mobility for persons with disabilities.
Their assessment should be based on beneficiary registers, procurement records, distribution documentation and evidence of utilisation. The relevant question is not simply whether the items were distributed, but whether they reached the intended beneficiaries and delivered the anticipated public benefit.

8. Educational Support and Academic Excellence
During the administration’s anniversary, four law students and one best graduating student of Heritage Polytechnic reportedly received ₦500,000 each, totalling ₦2.5 million.
This intervention represents a reported investment in education, academic achievement and human capital development. Its significance should be assessed alongside the council’s other developmental commitments, with appropriate verification of the beneficiaries, disbursements and programme objectives.

9. Youth Skills Acquisition and Enterprise Empowerment
Six young people participated in a six-month training programme at DASAK, at a training cost of ₦1 million per participant. Each subsequently received ₦500,000 in empowerment support. The reported expenditure comprised ₦6 million for training and ₦3 million in empowerment grants, bringing the combined total to ₦9 million.
The relevant records should establish participation, completion of training, disbursement of grants and subsequent enterprise or employment outcomes. Where verified, this programme should be recognised as an intervention intended to equip young people with skills and practical support for economic participation.

10. Educational Assistance for over 3,000 Pupils
The administration provided educational assistance to approximately 3,000 pupils, involving an expenditure of about ₦65 million. Given the scale of the programme and its implications for public expenditure, beneficiary registers, distribution records, payment documentation and details of the assistance should be examined.

If substantiated, the programme would constitute a significant investment in children’s welfare and education. Its inclusion in any performance assessment should be determined by verified records and the benefits delivered to the intended pupils.

11. Learning Materials for All 16 Primary Schools
The administration also supplied writing materials to all 16 primary schools in the local government area, including 10,000 exercise books and 150 cartons of chalk.
School acknowledgements, distribution records, procurement documents and relevant expenditure records can establish the extent and implementation of this intervention. The provision of basic learning materials is a practical contribution to the educational environment and should be considered alongside other investments in the sector.

12. Technology Exposure and Digital Skills for Students
A holiday technology programme reportedly involved 130 students, with laptops awarded to the five best-performing participants. The programme’s contribution should be assessed through participation records, the training provided, selection criteria, the laptops supplied and evidence of learning outcomes. This intervention is particularly relevant to the question of whether local government development is being assessed broadly enough to capture digital exposure and the development of skills among young people.

13. Medical Assistance and Humanitarian Intervention
The administration equally expended more than ₦12 million on the treatment of an individual who remains under medical care. This continuing humanitarian intervention should be supported by appropriate financial and medical documentation, with due regard for the individual’s privacy. The purpose of raising this matter is not to exempt humanitarian expenditure from accountability, but to ensure that verified interventions directed towards residents’ welfare are considered within a comprehensive assessment of the council’s activities.

14. Health Insurance Registration for 100 Indigenes
The administration ingeniously paid for health insurance registration for 100 indigenes. A proper assessment should establish the payment, identify the beneficiaries through appropriate records and confirm the enrolment status.
The distinction is important because payment for registration and effective access to insured healthcare are not necessarily the same thing. The public benefit should be evaluated against the actual status and utilisation of the coverage.

15. Community Security, Peacebuilding and Administrative Support
The administration has also constituted committees to support community governance, security, peacebuilding, environmental management and service delivery. These include the Media, Security Watch, Hunters, Environmental, Security, Peace and Resolution, Special Advisers and Hospital Ad Hoc Committees.
Their reported membership exceeds 167 persons, with approximately ₦8 million expended monthly. These figures deserve careful examination of the committees’ mandates, membership, approved costs, activities, payment records and measurable outputs. Oversight should establish whether the expenditure is necessary, proportionate and productive. The existence of committees should neither be treated automatically as proof of good performance nor dismissed without examination. Their value must be determined by evidence of what they do, the resources they consume and the benefits they deliver.

Taken together, these projects and programmes span infrastructure, housing, market development, public facilities, environmental improvement, information technology, education, healthcare, youth empowerment, agriculture, livelihoods, disability inclusion and community administration. My argument is not that a list of projects settles the question of performance. It is that no credible judgement on performance should be made without a fair examination of material projects, expenditure records and the public value they generate.

Where the records substantiate the interventions and their benefits, the findings should reflect them. Where implementation weaknesses, cost discrepancies or other deficiencies are established, those should equally be documented and addressed.

That is the standard of evidence-based oversight to which I respectfully invite the House.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT FINANCIAL AUTONOMY MAKES RIGOROUS OVERSIGHT MORE IMPORTANT

The committee’s report acknowledges that statutory allocations now flow directly to local government councils following the implementation of financial autonomy under the Federal Government’s reform framework. It also states that no interference by the state governor in council funds was observed. These observations reinforce the need for rigorous scrutiny of each council’s financial management and developmental outcomes. Financial autonomy is not a licence for waste, nor does it exempt local government officials from accountability. It increases the importance of demonstrating that public resources are properly managed and converted into tangible benefits for residents.

At the same time, financial autonomy should not become a basis for undifferentiated judgements that fail to examine the particular circumstances, financial records, project commitments and outcomes of individual councils.

The relevant questions are clear: What resources were received? What was budgeted and spent? Which projects were approved and executed? What has been completed? What remains ongoing? What value has been delivered?
These questions should guide the assessment of every local government, including Esit Eket Local Government Administration.

OVERSIGHT MUST DISTINGUISH ADMINISTRATIVE WEAKNESSES FROM DEVELOPMENTAL PERFORMANCE

Mr Speaker, Sir, the condition of council premises and the provision of working facilities are legitimate administrative concerns. However, they cannot independently determine a council’s overall developmental performance. A council may need to improve its offices while making progress in healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure and social welfare. Conversely, an impressive administrative complex does not prove that public funds have been judiciously deployed.
A sound assessment must distinguish among administrative deficiencies, implementation delays, incomplete or poor-quality projects, financial irregularities and proven misuse of public funds. Each category requires appropriate evidence and a proportionate corrective response.

Where financial impropriety is alleged, specific findings should be identified. Where project execution is criticised, the relevant projects, specifications, expenditure and status should be stated. Where inadequate public value is alleged, the indicators supporting that conclusion should be clear.

The publicly presented report does not sufficiently demonstrate how its adverse classification of Esit Eket Local Government Administration was reached in relation to the range of projects and interventions outlined above. The appropriate response is neither to presume satisfactory performance nor to sustain an adverse conclusion without further examination. It is to verify the facts, assess the evidence and allow the findings to determine the outcome.

MY APPEAL TO THE SPEAKER: LET THE FACTS COMPLETE THE RECORD

In view of the foregoing, I respectfully appeal to you, Mr Speaker, to facilitate a fair and transparent reconsideration of the findings concerning Esit Eket Local Government Administration. Specifically, I propose the following:

First, a targeted re-assessment of Esit Eket Local Government Area. The committee should revisit its findings in light of verifiable projects, financial records, implementation documents and evidence of community impact.

Second, clarification of the assessment methodology. The committee should communicate the criteria, financial periods, project selection process and evidential basis used in classifying the performance of the local governments inspected.

Third, verification of material discrepancies and additional evidence. Where documentary records or credible stakeholder submissions raise questions about the completeness of the assessment, a supplementary inspection or verification exercise should be considered.

Fourth, structured stakeholder participation. Future oversight exercises should provide appropriate channels for community representatives and other stakeholders to submit documented information, supported by clear procedures for verification and consideration.

Fifth, adoption of a consistent performance framework. The House should encourage transparent indicators covering budget execution, project completion, infrastructure quality, service delivery, financial accountability and measurable community benefits, while taking account of differences in the needs and circumstances of individual councils.

Sixth, clearer and more evidence-based reporting. Committee reports should distinguish verified physical observations, documentary findings, stakeholder submissions, unresolved questions and final recommendations. This would enable elected representatives and the public to understand what has been established, what remains uncertain and what corrective action is required.

These proposals are not intended to undermine the committee or diminish the authority of the House of Assembly. They are intended to strengthen legislative oversight, improve public administration and ensure that the House’s conclusions command the confidence and trust they deserve.

THE HOUSE MUST BE STRONG ENOUGH TO REVIEW ITS OWN FINDINGS

Mr Speaker, I recognise that legislative committees must make difficult judgements and that their conclusions will not always satisfy the institutions or individuals concerned. I do not seek to shield Esit Eket Local Government Administration from legitimate criticism, nor do I presume that its administration has performed satisfactorily in every respect.

My submission is that the authority to scrutinise must be accompanied by the responsibility to demonstrate fairness of judgement through verifiable evidence and consistent standards.
Where legitimate questions arise about the completeness or evidential basis of an assessment, the appropriate institutional response is objective review.

Reviewing findings is not an admission of failure. It is an affirmation that accountability matters more than preserving an untested conclusion. It demonstrates that a democratic institution is confident enough in its authority to subject its own judgments to further scrutiny when circumstances warrant it.

As a curated expert in Leadership and Governance, I understand that the ultimate purpose of oversight is not merely to identify shortcomings or pronounce judgement. It is to improve administration, strengthen service delivery, promote responsible expenditure and deepen public confidence in democratic institutions.

The House of Assembly should therefore ensure that its assessment of Local Government performance meets the standards of fairness, consistency, transparency and evidential rigour expected of a responsible legislature.

CONCLUSION: ESIT EKET DESERVES AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF ITS DEVELOPMENT RECORD

Mr Speaker, I make this appeal in good faith, in defence of institutional accountability and in the overriding interest of the people of Esit Eket and Akwa Ibom State. I recognise the constitutional importance of the House of Assembly’s oversight responsibilities and do not seek to diminish the work of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. My concern is to ensure that the exercise fulfils its purpose without leaving legitimate questions unanswered or allowing an insufficiently substantiated conclusion to define the developmental record of an entire local government area. Esit Eket deserves the same impartial scrutiny as every other council. It also deserves an assessment that recognises demonstrable achievements, identifies shortcomings precisely and distinguishes verified facts from assumptions or incomplete findings. This is in the heart of international best practices.

The construction of Urua Ayu Market; the renovation of Uquo Market and the Council Hall; the three compassionate homes; the landscaping of the council premises covering approximately 6,700 square metres; the furnishing of the ICT centre with 35 desktop computers; and the other reported interventions in education, healthcare, youth development, agriculture and social welfare collectively provide sufficient grounds for a closer, evidence-based examination of the council’s record.

Their inclusion here is not a demand for automatic commendation. It points to the fact that relevant evidence requires fair examination before a definitive conclusion is reached. I therefore respectfully urge you to facilitate a reconsideration of the findings concerning Esit Eket Local Government Administration, so that relevant evidence may be evaluated and the conclusions placed on a transparent, fair and defensible foundation.

The people of Esit Eket Local Government Area are entitled both to an accountable government and to an accurate account of the projects and interventions undertaken in their name and for their benefit. The strength of a legislature is measured not only by its power to investigate or pronounce judgement, but also by its willingness to ensure that its conclusions are supported by evidence, guided by fairness and open to review when necessary.

Oversight without sufficient evidence risks becoming an assertion of authority. Oversight grounded in verifiable facts becomes an instrument of accountability, justice and development. That is the standard within the remit of constitutional democracy that I respectfully urge the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to uphold.

Please accept, Mr Speaker, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Rt. Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, MNIPR
Former Member and Spokesperson, House of Representatives;
Citizen and Stakeholder, Esit Eket Local Government Area
Akwa Ibom State

19.10.26