Otti Did Not Spend N927m on Feeding, Abia Commissioner For Budget

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The reports making rounds that the Abia State government under the administration of Governor Alex Otti has spent over N900 million on feeding and welfare from July to September 2023 is false.

It was reported that Otti’s government has spent N927 million within three months on meals, settlement of honorarium, allowances, and welfare packages.

But in a press conference on Monday, the claim was refuted by the state Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Kingsley Anosike, who described the reports as ‘a reflection of the mindset of the opposition to create mischief’.

He gave a detailed explanation of the money spent and not from the governor’s office as alleged but it was expensive spent by the entire ministries, departments and agencies of the state.

Anosike said, “Following the publication of the Q3 budget report of the Abia State Government, and in line with the government’s commitment to transparency, good governance, and fiscal discipline, it has become necessary to shed more light on the aforementioned report.

“This is even more so when there are certain distorted reports on social media alleging that the Abia State Government had spent close to N1 billion on feeding and welfare for the Governor’s Office, within the period under review.

“The accurate situation is that nothing in that region has been spent in the Governor’s Office”.

Noting further, Anosike gave the total amount spent on refreshments and meals by the entire government to be N223,389,889.84.

[Punch/SA]