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Former Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Lands Development Authority (NALDA), Prince Paul Ikonne, has openly questioned the Abia State government’s claim of spending ₦54 billion on refurbishing and constructing public schools.
He described the figure as implausible and unsupported by the realities on the ground.
Addressing stakeholders in Ukwa through his media aide, Ujo Justice, PhD, Ikonne voiced deep frustration over what he termed the alarming decay of public educational facilities across the state.
He criticised the administration of Governor Alex Otti, insisting the claim of having invested such an amount in just 53 schools “insults the intelligence of Abians” given the visible neglect of learning environments.
A financial report issued by the Accountant General of Abia State, Njum Uma-Onyemenam, and made public earlier this year, disclosed that Abia recorded N320 billion in revenue for 2024, derived from FAAC allocations, internally generated revenue, and capital receipts, excluding local government income and loans.
Among the significant expenditures was the reported N54.07 billion allocated to school rehabilitation.
In a statement released to journalists on Sunday, Ikonne said:
“What we see in Ukwa and many other areas is an education system in disrepair. Ceilings are collapsing, blackboards are unusable, roofs are gone, and children sit on bare floors beneath leaking roofs. If ₦54 billion truly went into this, then show us the evidence. Name the schools. Let us visit them,” he demanded.
He further urged the state government to disclose a detailed breakdown of how the funds were spent, listing contractors, locations, timelines, and providing photographic or video evidence of completed projects.
According to Ikonne, failure to do so would show blatant disregard for transparency.
Beyond primary and secondary schools, Ikonne highlighted the poor state of higher institutions like the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, where parts of buildings have reportedly collapsed, forcing students to learn in hazardous conditions.
“If we can’t maintain our own health college, how can we claim to be improving education? It’s disgraceful,” he remarked.
He also observed that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, states receive higher federal allocations, making it even more troubling that critical sectors like education appear neglected.
“Governance isn’t about polished press releases. It’s about concrete results,” Ikonne said.
He concluded by calling for lawmakers, civil society groups, and anti-corruption agencies to initiate a forensic audit into the ₦54 billion expenditure.
“Our children deserve better, and Abians must not stop asking questions until the truth comes out,” he urged.
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Prince Paul Ikonne, former Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Lands Development Authority (NALDA), had praised the Super Falcons of Nigeria for their recent victory at the Africa Women’s Nations Cup.
He described the triumph it as a moment of immense pride for the country.
Read more on Legit.ng – Nigeria news.
