The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), has directed the Heads of Local Government Administration (HLGAs) across the 23 local government areas in the state to submit detailed reports covering the past two years of their councils’ activities.

This directive, which was issued by the state government, has reportedly caused unease among the HLGAs due to its urgency and alleged political implications. The order comes in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling, which nullified the 2024 local government elections. Following that judgment, the suspended Governor, Siminialayi Fubara, had instructed the HLGAs to assume administrative control of their respective councils.

However, in an unexpected move on Monday, the state administrator mandated the submission of these reports, a directive that was formally communicated to the local government heads by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Dame Dr. Itong Awani. The instruction became public knowledge on Wednesday.

The letter emphasized the importance of compliance, stating that the reports must be submitted to the Permanent Secretary’s office by Wednesday, March 26, 2025, for further transmission to the Sole Administrator at Government House, Port Harcourt.

The required report format includes several key components: an introduction or preamble, a breakdown of the council’s functions, the number of staff members categorized by cadre, and the sources of revenue generation within the local government area. Additionally, the HLGAs must provide a comprehensive summary of the councils’ activities, highlighting ongoing and completed projects over the past two years, as well as the councils’ achievements during the period.

Moreover, the directive instructs the HLGAs to identify the key challenges facing their councils and to propose recommendations for addressing these issues. The letter underscores the urgency of the task and urges the LGA heads to strictly adhere to the submission deadline.

This latest development has sparked speculation about the motives behind the directive, with some linking it to the ongoing political tensions in the state. It remains unclear what specific actions the state government intends to take following the submission of these reports.