Imoke suspends release of funds to Local Government Councils

Governor Liyel Imoke

The Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke who over the weekend read the riot act to his aides to ensure that the Obudu Mountain Race becomes less of a burden to the state beginning with the 2013 edition has also brought down the big stick on council chairmen in the state.

Senator Imoke who had earlier planned to release the sum of 50 million to each of the 18 outgoing chairmen in the state to enable them complete projects and meet other financial commitment before their exit on the 17th of December got an unsavory security report that the chairmen had perfected plans to siphon the money as their “settlements” for not being allowed a second tenure.

An impeccable source in government told CrossRiverWatch that when Imoke got wind of the obnoxious plans, he quickly instructed Mr. Ojogwu, the Accountant General to put pay to all plans to release the money until the newly elected chairmen assume duty.

“The state got some money from the Federal Government which the governor thought would be nice to allow the chairmen have access to some funds to help them complete some outstanding projects but when the chairmen became funny, he promptly suspended the release of such funds”.

Our source said “the money meant for the councils would be released to the new chairmen who would be closely monitored to ensure the funds are judiciously used for what they are meant for. The state is experiencing severe cash crunch so nobody, not even the new chairmen would be allowed to cart away state funds for whatever reasons”.