Revealed: How Gov Alex Otti spent Abia’s N927million on food, refreshment in three months

A copy of the state budget performance report acquired by this media has revealed that Governor Alex Otti of Abia State spent a whopping N927 million in three months on refreshment/meals, settlement of honorarium, allowances, and welfare packages for the eggheads.

The report titled

“Abia State Third Quarter (July – September) 2023 Budget Performance”was posted on the state government’s website. (https://abiastate.gov.ng/abia-state-3rd-quarter-2023-budget-performance-report-2/)

“This Q3 and Year to date performance is assessed against the revised 2023 Budget that covers the Original Budget plus a n Amendment Virement sum of N22,263,269,900 as summarised below,” it read.

“This Budget Performance Report is produced by the Abia State Planning Commission, Budget Department/Office of the Accountant General, Accounts Production Department and published on the Abia State website.”

According to the report, the Otti-led government spent N223,389,889.84 on refreshment/meals, and N305,400,000.00 on honoraria and sitting allowance for government personnel between July and September 2023.

In addition, the government claimed to have spent N397,520,734.00 on welfare packages.

Furthermore, N737,922,661.25 was spent on motor vehicles, according to the paper. The purchase price and for whom the automobiles were purchased were never disclosed.

Meanwhile, the Abia government spent N362,804,050.00 on truck purchases and another N400,890,000.00 on bus purchases.

The government also claimed in the paper that N252.4m was utilized to run the Deputy Governor’s office for three months.

According to the study, the government spent barely N25 million on the restoration of public schools in the state.

This is because many of Abia State’s public primary and secondary schools are considered as a “eyesore.”
According to several online sources, the majority of public secondary and primary school buildings and infrastructure in Abia State’s 17 local government areas were aging and degrading due to government failure.

A significant number of school buildings in the state were claimed to be dilapidated, with leaking roofs, damaged furniture, doors, and windows; some completely abandoned, with loads of waste, human excreta, and overgrown shrubbery.

(Credit: Sahara Reporters, Abiastate.gov.ng)