The more things change, the worse they become.
Yesterday, the Abia State Government published the 2024 financial report on its official website, abiastate.gov.ng. It is important to note that publishing and hosting this report is mandatory, just as it is for the other 36 states, including the FCT and the Federal Government.
The mandatory publication of Financial report is a World bank strategy of enhancing transparency among national and sub nationals and there are financial incentive for meeting deadlines. The project is warehoused under SFTAS programme.
If we were concerned about the 2023 financial report, then Abians should brace themselves for an even more troubling reality, as the 2024 report reveals shocking details of financial expenditures.
It is also crucial to understand that these figures represent funds already expended, with accounts closed as of December 31, 2024.
Lately, there has been a desperate attempt to hoodwink the gullible with complex narratives about economic codes and classification codes—a strategy seemingly designed to divert attention from the alleged monthly looting taking place in Abia State.
A quick review of the report exposes some staggering figures:
1. N58 billion was reportedly spent on the rehabilitation of public schools.
2. N20 billion was allocated for repairs and rehabilitation of health centers.
3. N22 billion was spent on office building renovations.
4. N3.7 billion went toward electricity and electrification projects.
5. An additional N1.014 billion was spent in Q4 on ICT, bringing the total ICT expenditure to N3.4 billion—the same sector where Chima Oriaku was sacked for questioning expenses. Chima is warming up for his world Press conference on his stewardship.
6. The report also indicates that N15 billion was allocated for land acquisition in 2024. Without the vague “clarification code,” one might have expected Ukwa, Nsulu, and other communities to confirm that such an amount was indeed spent for that purpose. This is a clarion call to those collecting N1m as kola fee per community.
Let the CPS’s so-called classification code explain how these figures do not raise eyebrows—even the report’s date itself is questionable.
Abians, grab your popcorn and wait for the final analysis of the 2025 financial report, published by the Abia State Government on the night of January 29, 2024 from Ekeoma our John the Baptist.
