Human rights activist and former presidential campaign director of the Laboured Party in the 2023 election, Aisha Yesufu, has expressed strong disapproval of Abia State Governor Alex Otti’s excessive spending habits, as revealed in the state’s budget performance report. The report indicates that the government spent N927 million within three months on refreshments, meals, honorarium, allowances, and welfare packages.
Yesufu, known for her unwavering advocacy for transparency and accountability, took to her social media platform to highlight the absurdity of such expenditure. She questioned the rationale behind spending nearly a billion naira on food and welfare in just a three-month period.
In a scathing remark, Yesufu declared, “Business as usual can never be the way to go. It must be business unusual. Expenditure must be reduced to the barest minimum.”
Business as usual can never be the way to go. It must be business unusual.
Expenditure must be reduced to the barest minimum.
Almost a billion on food and welfare in 3 months? @alexottiofr get organizations like @TrackaNG to help keep you on your toes and monitor your spendings… https://t.co/kfNQJKITJU— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) November 20, 2023
She urged Governor Otti to prioritize responsible governance and ensure that public funds are utilized judiciously for the betterment of the people.
Yesufu further recommended that Governor Otti collaborate with organizations like TrackaNG, a non-profit organization dedicated to tracking and monitoring government spending. She believes such collaboration would enhance transparency and accountability, ensuring that the government’s actions align with the interests of the citizens.
The excessive spending by the Abia State government has drawn widespread criticism, with many expressing concern over the misallocation of resources. Yesufu’s condemnation of these practices serves as a reminder that responsible governance and prudent financial management are essential for the development and progress of any society.
The admonition followed the Abia State budget performance report indicating that the government spent a whopping N927 million within three months on refreshments and 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
“This Q3 and Year to date performance is assessed against the revised 2023 Budget that covers the Original Budget plus an Amendment Virement sum of N22,263,269,900 as summarised below,” it read.
In the report, Otti-led government claimed it spent N223,389,889.84 on refreshments and meals while N305,400,000.00 was spent on honorarium and sitting allowances for government officials within July and September 2023.
The government also claimed it spent N397,520,734.00 on welfare packages.
Also in the report, the government claimed N252.4m was used to run the Deputy Governor’s office for three months.
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