- Demand detailed account records
A pro-All Progressives Congress (APC) group in Abia State, operating under the auspices of the Abian’s Best Interest Association, has accused the state government of questionable spending, alleging that ₦54 billion reportedly spent on the renovation and retrofitting of public schools has yielded no visible result.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Abuja, the convener of the group, Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, pointed to the continued dilapidated state of many schools across local government areas as evidence that the claimed expenditure does not reflect reality.
The group said it toured several LGAs in the state and found that many schools remain in poor condition despite a recorded ₦54 billion and ₦14 billion allocation for 2024 and 2023 respectively.
Chikamnayo challenged the Alex Otti-led administration to explain how ₦54 billion was reportedly expended on 51 schools without any significant improvements on the ground.
“We went further to question the much-publicized ₦54 billion which appeared in the Abia State Budget Performance Report for the renovation and retrofitting of public schools for the year 2024 and stress that a Budget Performance Report, anywhere in the world, details accomplished projects and the actual amounts spent – not mere approved figures.
“We also noted with alarm, that before then, the Ministry of Education Abia State under Dr. Uche Eme, the Commissioner recorded that ₦14 billion was withdrawn in 2023 for the same renovation of public schools,” he said.
The association also alleged that the 2024 budget performance report contains several “non-existing” projects for which funds were written off.
“We also wish to draw the attention of all Abians to the following ‘non-existing’ projects for which monies have been written away as shown in the said report: Research & Development – ₦7.28bn, Construction of Recreational Facilities – ₦6.5bn, Improvement of Agric Seedlings – ₦4bn, Capacity Building – ₦3bn, Security Vote – ₦18bn, Renovation of Schools – ₦54bn, and LGA allocations – over ₦300bn.
“We call on Abians to be vigilant, ask questions, and demand full accountability and transparency from the Alex Otti-led administration. The future of our children is at stake, and no government should be allowed to mortgage it under the guise of inflated or questionable expenditure.
“It is our duty to hold the government accountable, especially in view of the humongous amount – totalling over ₦1 trillion – which President Tinubu’s reform policies have made possible”, they said.
The group called on residents of the state to demand transparency from the government.
The also insisted that they will continue to scrutinize government spending to ensure public funds are used for the benefit of the people.
