By Obinna Oriaku

The Deputy Speaker was absolutely right when he stated that Abia State receives about ₦38 billion monthly, according to the state’s own Quarter 2, 2025 Budget Performance Report. The report, published by the Abia State Government, provides undeniable evidence that exposes the ignorance of certain government aides who struggle to grasp even the most basic principles of public finance.

The confusion stems from a fundamental lack of understanding between FAAC receipts and total revenue. The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursement represents only funds shared from the federation account. However, total revenue goes beyond FAAC, it includes Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), LNG dividends, federal interventions, aid and grants, and even loans that were crystalized within the reporting period.

From the official Q2 2025 Budget Implementation Report, Abia State recorded ₦101.3 billion as its government share of FAAC and ₦13.2 billion as independent revenue (IGR), bringing the total recurrent revenue to ₦114.6 billion within the quarter.

In simpler terms, the state’s financial report confirms that Abia actually earned an average of ₦38 billion monthly from combined FAAC and IGR sources between April and June 2025, precisely what the Deputy Speaker stated.

This report is not hearsay. It was prepared and signed by the State Accountant General and the Commissioner for Finance, both being the official custodians of Abia’s public accounts.

For once, Abians are beginning to understand the actual flow of funds into their state. The same document further shows that Abia’s opening balance stood at ₦21.4 billion, while total revenue for Q2 amounted to ₦114.89 billion, and total expenditure for the same period hit ₦94.38 billion.

Yet, despite the clarity of these figures, some of the Governor’s aides have continued to contradict the government’s own published reports in the media, displaying an embarrassing level of ignorance about basic public-sector accounting.

Ferdinand Ekeoma, for instance, recently claimed that Abia had a total workforce of 31,000 before Governor Alex Otti assumed office, a figure that conveniently excludes local government employees across the state’s 17 LGAs. Historically, Abia’s total workforce (state and local government combined) stood at around 68,000 before about 10,000 workers were laid off. Even more troubling is the revelation that the State Accountant General now oversees salary payments for local government workers, a clear aberration and violation of local government autonomy.

These repeated blunders and false claims by government spokespersons have become a source of ridicule to a state blessed with some of Nigeria’s brightest minds.

If Abia truly wishes to project an image of competence and transparency, Governor Alex Otti must begin by subjecting his aides to basic training in governance and public finance. Their persistent misstatements are not only embarrassing but also damaging to the credibility of the administration.

Abia cannot continue to be mocked because of aides who cannot differentiate between FAAC receipts and total revenue. Governance is not a classroom for financial amateurs; it is a serious business that demands knowledge, discipline, and accountability.

©️Ekwedike