The Abia State Government has refuted claims by the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) that it sent a bill to the State House of Assembly aiming to take 90% of local government allocations, leaving only 10% for local governments. The allegations, outlined in a letter jointly signed by the Abia NLC chairman and secretary, were dismissed as unfounded and disrespectful by the state administration.

Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, issued a statement challenging the NLC to produce evidence supporting its claim, which he labeled as a result of misinformation spread by opposition elements. “At no time did the executive arm of government send any bill to the Abia House of Assembly seeking to get 90 per cent of LGA allocation ceded to the state,” Ekeoma affirmed.

He further criticized the NLC for not seeking clarification from the House of Assembly before going public with its accusations. “Shouldn’t a reputable body like the NLC have written a letter of clarification to the House to obtain the correct information instead of hastily rushing to the media to misrepresent the government and disinform the public?” he asked.

Earlier in the week, Deputy Speaker Austin Okezie had also dismissed the allegations as baseless. The state government cautioned the NLC against taking a “hostile and malicious” stance based on rumors, urging them to rely on verified information before making public statements.