Open Letter to Governor Okezie Ikpeazu

Your Excellency,

I wish to humbly inquire about a certain 2.5bn loan that was said to have been recently collected by your government. This loan was said to have been collected on behalf of the 17 local government councils for various projects.

I am aware that the transition Chairmen have been asked to submit projects that will be undertaken on their behalf with this loan.

As an Abian, I am worried about the financial health of Abia State. I know you are worried too. Only few days ago, Abia state Resident Doctors Association kicked against the request by the government to warehouse their salary arrears until finances improve. Abia Poly staff, ABSUTH, College of Health, SEMB and other parastatals have been reeling under the weight of non payment of salaries.

Your Excellency, how is it that other states are able to meet their financial obligations and we cannot? When did it become the duty of the state government to be take loans on behalf of local governments? Why will loan be collected before project conceptualization?

Your Excellency, while you work assiduously to end the salary and pension nightmare in the state, I wish to suggest few areas you might find useful in freeing up funds to meet statutory obligations.

1. Security Votes: Your Excellency, if you’d be gracious enough to reduce your security vote and that of other senior government officials by 60%, you can save up to 300 million naira monthly. How do you feel collecting 500 million from an allocation of 3 billion naira?

2. Overhead: It smacks of sheer prodigality to spend humongous sums on consumption in the guise of running government. A look at the budget shows that your office and that of other senior government officials, spend outrageous sums as overhead cost.

3. Legislative Allowance: Your Excellency, there is no justification for paying 24 lawmakers over 140 million naira as salaries and allowances every month.

Your Excellency, posterity will judge you harshly if you mismanage the opportunity God gave you to make a change in Abia. I look forward to receiving a reply through your Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, who has been doing a good work of bringing open letters to your attention.

Accept the assurances of my commitment to telling you the truth at all times.

Sincerely,

Munachimso Honest Offor.