Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has stated that his administration met 948 dysfunctional primary healthcare centres across the state as part of its initial challenges.
Otti made the assertion when he hosted a delegation from BudgIT Foundation in his office in Nvosi, explaining that other sectors of the economy like education were not better either.
”The environment was completely filled with rubbish and mess all over the place. We became the dirtiest state in the country,” he said.
He noted that by prioritising the sectors, the administration had significantly addressed the challenges through transparent and prudent management of its resources.
”The issue of transparency is not negotiable. And, we have had cause to part with people because of the issue of transparency, because that’s the foundation.
”It’s not even a matter to discuss. It is taken for granted that everybody working here has to be transparent. It’s public service, public funding, people’s money.
”So, you must use them very well. I can tell you for sure, and for free, that the issue of transparency sits in the centre of this government,” the governor emphasised.
Earlier, the global director of the foundation, Oluseun Onigbinde, commended Otti for the administration’ strong commitment to transparency and accountability in governance.
He informed that they came to seek “strategic partnership with the government in three key areas – fiscal sustainability, fiscal transparency and accountability, as well as social investment”.
He added: “We encourage government’s transparency, particularly in procurement processes, fiscal sustainability, and investments in critical social sectors that directly impact the people.”
