Abia State Governor Alex Otti has been asked to account for the N54 billion budget for public school renovation in the 2024 fiscal year.
Barrister Eze Chikamnayo, a public analyst and convener of Abia’s Best Interest Association, made this demand in a statement on Tuesday.
This followed reports that the state government, through the Ministry of Education under its Commissioner, Dr. Uche Eme, withdraw N14 billion in 2023 for the renovation of public schools.
According to Chikamnayo, a visit to several local government areas in the state showed deplorable state of infrastructure in public schools despite the huge budgetary allocation for their renovation.
“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.
“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 > N7.28bn, Construction of Recreational Facilities > N6.5bn, Improvement of Agric Seedlings, N4 billion, Capacity Building – N3bn, Security Vote > 18 Billion, Renovation of Schools 54 Billion, LGA allocations – Over 300 Billion.
“It is our duty to hold the government accountable, especially in view of the humongous amount, totally over 1 trillion naira, which President Tinubu’s reform policies have made possible.
“Abia State citizens everywhere must wake up and ask questions,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Otti-led government is yet to respond to the allegation as of the time of filing thia report.
