78.9 Billion Refunds: Advocacy Group Demand Accountability From Gov. Wike
An advocacy group, Network for Defense of Democracy and Good Governance NDDGG has called for the probity and judicious use of the 78.9 Billion Naira refunded to Rivers state by the Federal Government.
In line with the Public Procurement Laws, the group called on Governor Nyesom Wike to publish details as to how and what Projects the money refunded would be used.
The leader of NDDGG, Chief Sobomabo Jackrich and Federal Capital Territory Coordinator, Young Sankara, made the demands during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
While decrying that the state government does not have any accessible budget since inception of the current government in 2015, they alleged the marginalisation of government appointees, especially his deputy Governor whom they claimed has been relegated to the background.
The advocacy group accused Governor Wike of sectional development, saying that he’s “concentrating his projects on Ikwerre and Obiakpo local governments while neglecting the riverine oil producing areas which according to him, contributes 60% to the states IGR.”
He said “Rivers state is the 2nd highest debt ridden state in Nigeria with no tangible project to show for the debts recorded and the state govt is shying away from coming out to explain”.
NDDGG appreciated the President Muhammadu Buhari for the commitment to the development of the Niger Delta and particularly Rivers state.
They urged Mr. President to kindly ensure that the 78.9 Billion Naira refund to the state is accounted for by the state government and not emblezzed as usual.
They therefore called on civil societies, anti-corruption agencies, human rights fighting organisations and others to join the group on a fact-finding mission to the state to verify it claims and ensure that Wike’s administration observes all accountability and transparency measures in the running of the state in the interest of development.
Full details below:
