The Local Government Chairman who is the Chief Executive Officer of the local government heads each of the seventeen LGAs in the state. A Secretary, Supervisory Councilors and Councilors usually assist him. Most local government councils in the state have five departments viz: Administration, Agriculture, Health, Education and Works.

The administrative headquarters of the local government area is located in one of the urban or semi urban areas within the local government area. High courts are found in Aba and Ohafia local government areas as well as Umuahia, the state capital. Magistrate courts are located in Aba, Arochukwu, Ohafia, Bende, Isiukwuato and Ukwa LGAs. Customary courts are also found in Ukwa, Isiukwuato, Bende, Ohafia, and Arochukwu LGAs. Each autonomous community has a traditional head, the Eze that has been identified, selected, appointed and installed by the people according to their own tradition and presented to the government for recognition.