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Group berates Uzodinma over high spending on Gov’s office, neglect of key sectors

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A civil society organization, Policy Alert, has criticized Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State for allegedly giving precedence to his office at the expense of the state’s social sector budget implementation in the third quarter of 2023.

In a statement signed by its Programme Officer, Fiscal Reforms and Anti-Corruption, Faith Paulinus, the group expressed concern over the imbalance in expenditure, noting that the Office of the Governor received a total expenditure of N11.84bn, while all other Ministries, Departments, and Agencies in the state combined had only N7.37bn capital release during the quarter.

Policy Alert, which advocates for fiscal and ecological justice in the Niger Delta, conducted a review of the Imo State Third Quarter Budget Performance Report for 2023 (July – September). The organization highlighted a trend indicating consistently high priority given to the Office of the Governor, with N31.5bn already released for the last three quarters of 2023, representing 95 percent of the budgeted N33.1bn for the entire fiscal year.

The group expressed concern that if the current spending trend persists in the last quarter, there may be a risk of the state government engaging in extra-budgetary expenses for the Office of the Governor.

While acknowledging that making expenditures for the Governor’s Office is acceptable if budgeted for, Policy Alert raised alarm over the total neglect of social sectors, emphasizing that no capital release was made for sectors like Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Education, Health, Youth and Social Development, Women’s Affairs and Vulnerable Groups, Agriculture, and food security during the quarter.

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Policy Alert urged the state government to prioritize the social sector in the last quarter of 2023, emphasizing that the negligible capital release of N4.17bn for the entire Social Services Sector across the three quarters (only 14 percent of the budgeted N29.74bn for the year) implies citizens are being deprived of essential social services.

Additionally, the organization noted that recurrent spending in the quarter amounted to N18.76bn, while capital spending was only N7.37bn, urging the Imo State government to reconsider its prioritization of recurrent expenditure over capital expenditure.

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Maiduguri flood: Ogun Govt donates N200m to Borno State

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The Ogun State Government has donated N200 million to the Borno State Government in response to the severe flooding that recently devastated the area, causing significant property damage and displacing thousands of residents.

The flooding was triggered by the collapse of the Alau Dam in Maiduguri on September 10.

Reports indicate that at least 414,000 people have been displaced, with 30 lives lost due to the disaster.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun had previously sent condolences to the people and government of Borno, praising the state government’s swift actions and the support from the Federal Government.

Kayode Akinmade, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, stated on Saturday that the donation aims to aid flood victims and provide immediate relief. He noted the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Borno State caused by the flooding and called on all Nigerians to help those in need.

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Ekiti: Gov Oyebanji appoints over 300 board chairmen, members

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Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has approved the appointment of chairpersons and members for various government agency boards and parastatals.

This initiative aims to facilitate the efficient operation of government activities and improve service delivery.

The announcement was made in a statement on Friday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode.

The appointments, which include both full-time and part-time roles, will take effect on Monday, October 7, 2024.

Governor Oyebanji congratulated the new appointees, highlighting that their roles present valuable opportunities for public service. He encouraged them to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and ethical behavior in their duties.

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Nigerian govt mobilises contractor to F107 Road, collapsing bridge in Abia

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Users of the Umuahia-Bende-Arochukwu-Ohafia road will soon heave a sigh of relief as the Federal Government has mobilized a new contractor, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), to begin work on the collapsed sections of the road.

The mobilization of the new contractor followed a viral video by ABN TV titled “How Your Area,” which highlighted that the Onu Uduma Bridge, commonly known as Nmuri Bridge on the federal road, was on the verge of collapse.

The critical bridge, previously rehabilitated by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has come under severe pressure due to repeated downpours and the movement of heavy-duty vehicles, which exposed it to structural threats.

The Federal Executive Council approved additional funds for the project, supplementing the money initially approved in 2018.

The arrival of CCECC equipment at the affected site on Wednesday has brought hope to the people of Ohafia and all users of the road. This follows the termination of the previous contractor, Heartland, whose contract was revoked due to issues concerning the quality of work.

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Speaking on the arrival of the new contractor, the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency, Ibe Okwara Osonwa, stated that the progress was a result of his engagement with the Minister of Works, David Umahi, through the Abia State Government, to ensure repairs on the road and the Nmuri Bridge to prevent total collapse.

He expressed gratitude to Governor Alex Otti, his deputy, and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu for their swift response to the road’s condition, but urged host communities to offer maximum cooperation to the contractor to ensure smooth and timely completion of the work.

CREDIT: DAILY POST

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