SNOW TV NEWS DESK
Nigerian comedian Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Ejekwu, popularly known as Sabinus, has criticized local government chairmen over what he described as poor delivery of basic infrastructure despite the monthly allocations received by their administrations.
The comedian raised the concerns in a video shared on his Instagram page on Thursday, calling on Nigerians to pay closer attention to how public funds are managed at the grassroots level.
Speaking in Pidgin English, Sabinus questioned why local government officials, including councillors and other elected representatives, were not being held accountable for the resources allocated to their respective offices.
Identifying himself as a Port Harcourt indigene, the comedian said he was particularly concerned about the state of infrastructure in parts of the South-South region, where residents continue to grapple with basic development challenges.
He argued that providing essential amenities should be among the primary responsibilities of local government administrations, especially given their proximity to the communities they govern.
“Make us talk about something the way we suppose to. I thought about something. “Abeg, how many of you don’t ask our local government chairmen, councillors, House of Assembly members, House of Representatives members, and governors what happens to the money they give them every month?” he said.
Sabinus also questioned the inability of some local government councils to provide streetlights, an essential public facility that contributes to road safety, security, and economic activities at night.
Using Rivers State and the wider Niger Delta as examples, he further claimed that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) appeared to be doing more development work in some areas than certain state governments.
“The NDDC is even doing more than some state governments in this South-South. Local government chairmen cannot do streetlights in some streets in their own local government,” he added.
His comments have brought renewed attention to the issue of accountability at the local government level, particularly the gap between public funding and visible development in many communities.
Local governments are the tier of government closest to the people and are expected to play important roles in grassroots development, including rural roads, sanitation, primary healthcare, and community infrastructure.
With local government financial autonomy also becoming a major issue in Nigeria’s governance discussions, expectations are growing for council administrations to demonstrate greater transparency and accountability in the use of public funds.
Sabinus’ intervention raises a question that residents across the country continue to ask: if local governments receive monthly allocations, why are some communities still struggling with basic amenities?
Ultimately, the responsibility lies with public officials to demonstrate how public resources translate into tangible improvements in the lives of the people they serve.
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
Email: snowmediaconnect@gmail.com
