From Moshood Karim
As the tenure of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki draws to a close, a prominent civil society organisation, Social Defenders Advocacy (SDA), has called for full disclosure of the State’s financial dealings during his eight-year administration.
With less than a month before power transitions to the governor-elect, Senator Monday Okpebholo, the group is pressing for detailed information on revenues received and expenditures made since Mr. Obaseki assumed office.
The SDA’s demand, formally made through a letter invoking the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), was addressed to Governor Obaseki and signed by the group’s Coordinator, Leftist Aimuae-Osa Igbinomwanhia, along with other members.
The letter calls for a comprehensive report on all funds received between November 12, 2016, and the present date. Specifically, the group is requesting detailed information on:
– Monthly financial allocations from the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC)
– Federal government intervention funds
– International funds from organizations such as the World Bank and other foreign institutions
– Loans obtained from entities like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
– Internally generated revenue (IGR)
– Edo State’s debt profile in 2016 versus the current debt status
– Excess crude oil refunds and how they were utilised
According to the SDA, this transparency is crucial to keeping the people of Edo State informed about how public funds were managed.
They stressed the importance of understanding not only the total funds received by the State but also how those funds were deployed to benefit the citizens.
The organisation seeks clarification on completed and on-going projects, the impact of these projects on the people, and lessons that can be drawn from the administration’s handling of public resources.
The SDA noted that this information would serve as a benchmark for assessing the performance of future administrations in Edo State, helping to ensure that public funds are used efficiently and for the benefit of the people.
The group also indicated that the analysis could provide useful recommendations for future governments in terms of project execution and financial management.
Governor Obaseki’s administration has yet to respond to the demands made by the civil society organisation, but the SDA has stressed the urgency of obtaining the information before the transition of power in order to ensure transparency and accountability.
See the full letter below:
