According to Symfoni TV on Thursday, September 10, 2026, Kenneth Okonkwo said African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar would implement the Oronsaye Report and ensure that funds allocated to local governments are transferred directly to the councils.
Okonkwo said the proposed reforms would target government agencies he described as unnecessary or “fake,” with the aim of reducing duplication and redirecting public resources to institutions responsible for providing essential services to Nigerians.
“Atiku has said he’s going to implement the Oronsaye Report that will wipe out all the fake agencies,” Okonkwo said.
He explained that removing agencies considered redundant would enable functional government institutions to receive more resources and improve their ability to serve the public.
According to him, another major priority under an Atiku administration would be strengthening local government administration by ensuring that councils receive their statutory allocations directly.
“And I want to tell you, the local government funds will be transmitted to them straight away to ensure development at the grassroots level,” he stated.
Okonkwo argued that the poor performance of local governments has contributed significantly to poverty and underdevelopment in communities across the country.
“The poverty in the grassroots is because local government is not working,” he said.
He also referred to the Supreme Court judgment affirming local government financial autonomy, arguing that the decision should result in councils having direct access to their funds and greater capacity to deliver development projects.
Okonkwo alleged that local government resources were still being controlled by state authorities despite the court’s position, claiming that the funds were being used for political purposes.
His comments come amid continued debate over local government autonomy, public-sector reforms and the management of government resources ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku has previously pledged to ensure direct disbursement of local government funds if elected president. He has also expressed support for implementing the Oronsaye Report, which recommends the merger, restructuring or scrapping of overlapping government agencies to reduce waste and improve efficiency.
Okonkwo maintained that the reforms would free up resources for productive government institutions while giving local councils greater financial capacity to deliver development at the grassroots.
He said the measures form part of Atiku’s broader plan to reduce government waste, improve efficiency and ensure that public funds translate into meaningful benefits for Nigerians.
COURTESY: LegitCyberGuru
