By Jude Michael
Anambra State Government says it received over N400 million from the Federal Government as oil and gas derivation fund as at December ended 2023.
The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Chiamaka Nnake, made this known when she appeared before the House of Assembly Public Accounts Committee at the legislative building in Awka.
According to her, the state was however still working to validate the allocation accruable to the state, following its oil producing status.
The Commissioner described the Public Account as a process that had been in the Finance and Appropriation Law, aimed at ensuring accountability and openness in governance.
She noted that the Anambra State House of Assembly members understood their responsibilities and had exhibited great commitment towards getting things right for the overall interest of the people.
Nnake also commended the lawmakers for their intentions and the rigor they went through while interacting with the Ministries, Departments and Agencies each time there was an interface between them.
She noted that the executive arm of government would continue to reciprocate by ensuring that all the MDAs did the right thing in order to strengthen the system for more dividends of democracy to the people.
Earlier the Chairman House Committee on Public Accounts, Mr Noble Igwe, said the essence of the exercise was to verify the audited Accounts of all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government for the year ended, December 2023, as provided by the Constitution.
Mr Igwe who represents Ogbaru Constituency 1 therefore urged all those involved not to see the verification as a witch hunt but rather prepare themselves with the necessary documents required of them in order to give good accounts of how tax payers’ monies, levies and revenues were utilized by the government.
The Committee however turned back the State’s Ministry of Agriculture because they did not comply with the necessary procedures and requirements in the letter of invitation issued them by the Public Accounts Committee.
Meanwhile, there is doubt about the authenticity of the N400 million received by the state from oil derivation.
A source who did not want his name in print said there was something fishy, noting that the Commissioner was well aware that Anambra had received far more than that.
‘This is 2024 June and they started receiving derivation funds since 2022 and the very first fund was over 500 million.
‘As at today, Anambra has received over N10 billion in oil derivation in two years, so how can we be talking about N400 million? As citizens, we cannot acquiesce to this. They may be hiding something from us, and which is not good. You need to reach out to the Commissioner to clarify this,’ the source advised.
