By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
An NGO, Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) has called for the probe of allocations from the Federation Account received by Governor Umo Eno and the 31 Local Government Transition Committee Chairmen since their assumption of office in May 29, 2023 and December 6, 2023, respectively.
It has also called on the Governor to account for the N30bn recently disbursed to it by the Federal Inland Revenue Service as recently disclosed by Senate President, Godswill Akpabio.
CHRAN stated that the call is in fulfilment of its civic responsibility and core mandate of holding public office holders accountable to the people and ensuring good governance in the country.
In a statement in Uyo on Thursday, the organisation said that it is aware that the Federal Government of Nigeria, sequel to the fuel subsidy removal, has increased the revenue allocation to the States and the Local Government Councils in the country.
The statement endorsed by it’s State Director in Akwa Ibom, Mr Franklin Isong and secretary Barr Been Ekpo recalled that the Federal Government had released the sum of N5 billion and 3,000 bags of rice to the Government of Akwa Ibom State for the people of the State as palliatives to cushion the effect of the withdrawal of fuel subsidy.
“CHRAN urges the Governor of Akwa Ibom State to account for the N5 billion and the other palliatives released to the Government of Akwa Ibom State by the Federal Government.
“CHRAN requests for information from the Government of Akwa Ibom State on the mass transit buses that the State Government proposed to provide from the N5 billion to mitigate the transportation challenges afflicting the people of the State as a result of the volatility of fuel price and galloping inflation.
“CHRAN also requests for information from the Government of Akwa Ibom State in respect of projects initiated by the State Government in the nine (9) months of the Governor Umo Eno administration.
“CHRAN further requests the Government of Akwa Ibom State to account for the hundreds of billions of Naira received from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, including the 13 percent derivation funds.” The statement said.
The organization said it has noted the dearth of development projects in Local Councils of the state even in the face of the huge funds released from the Federation Account Allocation Committee to the Local Government Areas in the State. CHRAN requested for information and account.
“CHRAN is alarmed by the prevailing exclusive class development in the State where only those in high places with affinity to the government enjoy the commonwealth of Akwa Ibom State leaving a sizable number of the people to scramble for crumbs and pushing the poorest of the poor into the abyss of abject poverty.
“Being a pro-people organisation, it is bothered by the prevailing negative trend of neglect and lack of transparency and accountability by governments in the State and urged Governor Umo Eno and the Chairmen of Local Government Transition Committees to account for the monies that they have received as heads of governments within their tenures so far and to strive to ensure that visible development is delivered expeditiously to the people.
“CHRAN is aware of a recent widely published statement credited to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to the effect that apart from the first tranche of funds given to State Governments, an additional N30 billion has been given to each State of the Federation through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), distinct from allocations from the Federation Account.
“There being no rebuttal from the Government of Akwa Ibom State, CHRAN urged the Government of Akwa Ibom State to account for the said disbursement from the FIRS.”
