Governor Otti's Expenditure Raises Eyebrows: Abia Citizens Call for Accountability | #NwokeukwuMas

 News 

 Alex Chioma Otti 

Abia State, Nigeria – In a recent disclosure of financial records spanning from July 2023 to March 2024, Governor Alex C. Otti's expenditure has sparked a wave of concern among citizens, with many calling for increased transparency and accountability in government spending.

The data, sourced by Eke O Ako from Abia's Budget Performance Reports available on the state government's website, reveals a staggering allocation of funds across various sectors. Key highlights include: “Governor's Office Expenditure: A whopping ₦11,441,905,183.76 was reportedly spent on running the Governor's Office during the nine-month period” raising questions about the allocation of resources.

Titled, GOVERNOR OTTI'S EXPENDITURE IN 9 MONTHS (JULY 2023 TO MARCH 2024)“ expository reads in full; “Please see below, Governor Alex C. Otti 's expenditure from July 2023 to March 2024. I would KINDLY request my good friend, Tochukwu Ogbuagu KepukepuTvTochukwu Ogbuagu KepukepuTv to post pictures of the projects mentioned here, - the roads, the hospitals, the school buildings, the office buildings, the residential buildings, pictures of the research and development projects, the capacity building projects, etc.

“Abia is really bleeding. The data are obtained from Abia's Budget Performance Reports published by Abia State Government on their website: 1 Running the Governor's Office  - ₦11,441,905,183.76, 3 Construction of Roads - ₦32,350,923,741.50, 4 Rehabilitation of Roads -  ₦6,933,513,171.12, 5 Minor Road Maintenance - ₦14,203,100.00

“7 Construction of Office Buildings - ₦1,768,611,372.06, 8 Rehabilitation of Office, Buildings - ₦1,827,694,564.95, 9 Purchase of Office Buildings - ₦16,347,612.24, 10 Maintenance of Office Buildings - ₦165,257,984.50.

“12 Construction of Residential Buildings - ₦57,065,000.00, 13 Rehabilitation of Residential Buildings - ₦677,790,728.20, 15 Construction of Electricity - ₦331,422,281.00, 16 Rehabilitation of Electricity - ₦53,340,500.00.

“18 Construction of Water facilities - ₦180,832,937.07, 19 Repair of Water Facilities  - ₦80,062,950.00, 21 Construction of Waterways - ₦288,914,231.63, 23 Construction of Public Schools - ₦736,403,387.79, 24 Rehabilitation of Public Schools - ₦3,835,255,630.41.

“26 Construction of Hospitals - ₦1,070,000,000.00, 27 Rehabilitation of Hospitals/Health Centres - ₦875,095,332.50, 29 Construction of Infrastructure - ₦842,974,999.87, 31 Construction of ICT Infrastructures - ₦2,458,582,165.00.

“33 Construction of Boundary Pillars - ₦139,769,387.79, 35 Construction of Traffic/Street Lights - ₦131,892,245.00

36 Rehabilitation of Traffic/Street Lights - ₦157,639,000.00, 39 Construction of Agricultural Facilities - ₦1,601,919,298.24.

“41 Construction of Sporting Facilities - ₦20,000,000.00, 42 Rehabilitation of Sporting Facilities - ₦110,093,660.00, 50 Rehabilitation of Libraries - ₦10,000,000.00, 52 Tree Planting - ₦15,000,000.00, 53 Erosion & Flood Control - ₦965,241,468.00, 54 Water Pollution Prevention - ₦158,218,313.84.

“56 Research & Development -₦3,002,036,968.31, 57 Monitoring & Evaluation - ₦25,000,000.00, 58 Anniversaries & Celebrations - ₦18,159,200.00, 59 Margin for increase in costs - ₦90,378,400.00, 60 Value Orientation - ₦71,085,000.00.

“62 Local Travel & Transport: Training - ₦337,025,385.78, 63 Local Travel & Transport: Others - ₦495,593,635.02, 64 International Travel: Training - ₦111,577,330.00, 65 International Travel: Others - ₦208,574,840.36.

“67 Homeland Security - ₦634,514,869.06, 68 Security Services - ₦381,307,623.38, 69 Security Vote - ₦4,481,411,372.00, 70 Purchase of Security Equipment - ₦356,345,000.00, 71 Purchase of Info & Communication Equipt - ₦147,745,200.00, 72 Purchase of CCTV & Intercom - ₦27,895,000.00, 73 Purchase of Industrial Equipment - ₦119,398,801.00.

“75 Foodstuff/ Catering Materials - ₦263,941,850.00, 76 Refreshments & Meals - ₦493,570,698.14, 77 Purchase of Kitchen Equipment - ₦15,000,000.00, 78 Meal Subsidy - ₦126,356,092.24, 79 Welfare Packages - ₦931,935,170.99, 81 Celebrations - ₦322,391,936.25.

“83 Purchase of Medical Equipment - ₦652,447,990.00, 84 Drugs/Medical Supplies - ₦108,520,819.60, 85 Medical Expenses -Local -  ₦11,856,973.08.

“87 Publicity & Advertisements - ₦266,298,669.00, 88 Publications/Publicity - ₦371,285,000.00, 90 Purchase of land - ₦436,995,990.47.

“92 Purchase of Motor Vehicles - ₦1,574,056,161.25, 93 Purchase of Vans - ₦56,033,000.00, 94 Purchase of Trucks - ₦727,896,020.00, 95 Purchase of Buses - ₦410,890,465.60, 97 Maintenance of Motor Vehicles - ₦227,182,603.00, 98 Motor Vehicles Fuel Cost - ₦264,872,533.90, 99 Other Transport Equipment Fuel Cost - ₦23,377,744.59.

“101 Capacity Building - ₦3,006,254,635.00, 102 Publications/Publicity - ₦371,285,000.00, 103 Social Welfare Activities - ₦486,029,515.00, 112 Purchase of Office Furniture - ₦44,820,765.00, 113 Maintenance of Office Furniture - ₦89,110,920.00.

“115 Purchase of Computers - ₦10,676,400.00, 116 Maintenance of Office/IT Equipment - ₦61,779,979.00, 117 Office Stationeries/Computer Consumables - ₦276,446,141.00, 118 Purchase of Photocopying Machines - ₦9,600,000.00, 120 Pensions - ₦2,128,080,020.74, 121 Security Vote - ₦4,481,411,372.00, 123 Power Generating Set - ₦146,589,664.00, 124 Maintenance of Plants/Generators - ₦160,813,489.95, 125 Plant/Generator Fuel Cost - ₦460,793,913.30.” It ended.

Despite the significant investments outlined in the report, concerns have been raised regarding the lack of visible development projects corresponding to the allocated funds. Critics argue that the disparity between expenditure and tangible outcomes raises questions about the efficiency and effectiveness of government spending.

Furthermore, calls have been made for increased transparency and accountability, with citizens urging Governor Otti's administration to provide detailed explanations and evidence of the utilization of public funds. As discussions surrounding Governor Otti's expenditure continue to escalate, the need for accountability and oversight remains paramount to ensure that public funds are utilized for the benefit of all citizens.