Naijahood
The Abia State Government refutes claims that Governor Alex Otti spent over N900 million on feeding and welfare between July and September 2023. Reports circulated on November 20 alleged that the governor utilized N927 million during this period for refreshments, settlements of honorarium, allowances, and welfare packages.
In response, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Kingsley Anosike, issued a statement dismissing these reports as attempts by the opposition to create mischief. Anosike clarified that the expenditure was not solely by the Governor’s office but encompassed all ministries, departments, and agencies in the state.
The statement emphasized the government’s commitment to transparency, good governance, and fiscal discipline, especially in light of the distorted reports circulating on social media. It clarified that the mentioned figure did not pertain to the Governor’s Office alone but covered expenses for special events like retreats and conferences across the entire state.
Regarding welfare expenditures, the statement outlined that the Abia State Government had spent N397,520,734.84 in alignment with the State Fiscal, Transparency, Accountability, and Sustainability Programme. This initiative, mandated by the Federal Government, covers welfare expenses for all ministries, departments, and agencies, addressing health, rehabilitation, and public emergencies.
The statement concluded by highlighting that the presented figure was a collective sum across the 76 MDAs in the state and had been inaccurately portrayed, emphasizing the need for a more accurate representation of the state’s expenditures.
