UMUAHIA – A disturbing fiscal trend has emerged in Abia State under Governor Alex Otti, with over ₦470 billion approved through supplementary and virement bills at the end of each calendar year since 2023—without clear project details or public tracking mechanisms.
Documents obtained by CDA News show the Abia State House of Assembly approved the following end-of-year allocations:
Sept 2023: ₦22.26bn (Virement Bill)
Aug 2024: ₦171.07bn (Virement Bill)
Aug 2025: ₦150bn (Supplementary Bill)
Dec 2025: ₦127.69bn (Virement Bill)
Critics, including transparency advocacy groups, argue that these funds—totaling ₦470.02bn—were passed without thorough legislative scrutiny, project breakdowns, contractor details, or procurement transparency. This has raised concerns about accountability and the actual execution of projects matching these allocations.
When contacted, a government spokesperson defended the approvals as “necessary budgetary adjustments to fund ongoing developmental projects” and assured that all expenditures follow due process. However, opposition figures and civic observers insist that Abians “cannot point to ₦200bn worth of visible projects” corresponding to these huge approvals.
The situation has sparked calls for greater transparency, detailed project reporting, and independent audit of the state’s finances.
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