AAC Demands Accountability from Governor Yahaya Over ₦203 Billion Local Government Funds
The African Action Congress (AAC) in Gombe State has called on Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya to account for how ₦203 billion in federal allocations to the state’s 11 local government areas was spent between January 2024 and July 2025.
In a statement signed by its state chairman, Bobo Bagwiba, the party alleged that the administration has failed to uphold transparency in the management of local government funds. It described the Joint Local Government Account as a “black hole” where resources disappear without explanation, while grassroots communities continue to struggle with poor infrastructure, limited healthcare, and underfunded schools.
The demand comes as Governor Yahaya pushes forward a plan to establish 13 new Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), which would raise the total number of local administrative units in Gombe from 11 to 24.
While the governor insists the new councils will bring governance closer to the people, the AAC argues that creating more units without explaining past spending would only open additional channels for financial mismanagement.
The party urged the Gombe State House of Assembly to suspend deliberations on the LCDA bill until the state government provides a transparent breakdown of all allocations and expenditures at the local government level.
Among its demands, the AAC called for the immediate publication of monthly federal allocations received by each local government from January 2024 to July 2025, alongside audited expenditure reports.
It also pressed for the conduct of democratic local government elections to replace caretaker committees, the introduction of a law limiting interim LCDA administrators to six months in office, and the quarterly publication of financial statements for both LGAs and LCDAs.
Bagwiba stressed that accountability was essential if Gombe was to achieve meaningful grassroots development, noting that residents have the right to know how billions meant for their welfare were applied.
Records from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) show that Gombe’s local governments received ₦203 billion in allocations over the 19-month period. These funds are intended to support basic services such as primary healthcare, education, road maintenance, and sanitation. The AAC insists that without public disclosure of how the money was managed, the government’s credibility will remain in question.
The Yahaya administration has yet to respond directly to the AAC’s allegations. While state officials continue to defend the creation of LCDAs as a step toward greater inclusiveness in governance, they have not provided a detailed account of the local government funds already received.
Civil society groups and political observers argue that full disclosure of allocations and expenditures is the only way to rebuild public confidence. For the AAC, until the government explains how the ₦203 billion was spent, the establishment of new administrative structures is unjustifiable.
