PRESS STATEMENT
7th April 2026
ABIA’S FISCAL ACCOUNTABILITY CRISIS: A CALL FOR LEGAL, INSTITUTIONAL, AND OPEN GOVERNANCE REFORMS
The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) has carefully reviewed the 2025 Subnational Audit Efficacy (SAE) Index published by the Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative, alongside concerns raised by the Foundation for Environmental Rights Advocacy and Development (FENRAD). The ranking of Abia State at the lowest position among the 36 states raises serious constitutional, governance, and accountability concerns that cannot be ignored.
Without equivocation, CEHRAWS affirms that the reported outcome reflects persistent structural weaknesses in public financial management and transparency frameworks within the State.
Under Sections 85 and 125 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Office of the Auditor-General remains a critical constitutional mechanism for ensuring accountability in the management of public funds. Any limitation, whether financial or administrative, undermines its effectiveness and weakens democratic governance. Similarly, the principles enshrined in the Abia State Public Procurement Law 2025 (as amended) and the Freedom of Information Act 2011 impose clear obligations on government to uphold transparency, open contracting, and public access to information.
Notwithstanding these concerns, CEHRAWS acknowledges and commends the present administration under Governor Alex Otti for demonstrable efforts in repositioning governance and infrastructure within the State. Visible strides, including ongoing urban road reconstruction and rehabilitation projects across Aba and Umuahia, renewed attention to waste management and environmental sanitation, and early steps toward civil service reforms and salary regularization, are indicative of a government that is responsive to developmental needs and committed to improving service delivery. These efforts, though commendable, must be complemented by equally robust institutional reforms in fiscal transparency and accountability to ensure sustainability.
CEHRAWS considers Abia State’s current accountability standing not merely a statistical concern but a reflection of deeper governance gaps. Fiscal opacity ultimately undermines socio-economic rights, weakens public confidence, and limits the impact of otherwise commendable developmental initiatives. Transparency and accountability remain the legal and institutional backbone upon which sustainable development must rest; without them, even the most visible infrastructural gains risk being overshadowed by systemic inefficiencies.
CEHRAWS further expresses concern over the administration’s continued reluctance to fully adopt and operationalize the principles of the Open Government Partnership (OGP). The OGP framework provides a tested pathway to institutional transparency, citizen participation, open budgeting, and technology-driven accountability. The Governor’s failure to assent to the OGP State Action Plan II (SAP II) effectively amounts to a failure to implement OGP principles. This not only distances the State from global best practices but also constrains opportunities for inclusive governance and investor confidence.
If left unaddressed, these gaps may result in the erosion of public trust, the weakening of oversight institutions, reduced efficiency in public expenditure, and increased exposure to corruption risks.
In light of the foregoing, CEHRAWS calls for the strengthening of audit institutions through full financial and administrative autonomy for the Office of the Auditor-General; the proactive disclosure of financial information through the routine publication of budgets, audit reports, and procurement data; the reinforcement of legislative oversight through a more active and transparent Public Accounts Committee; the effective implementation of audit recommendations through enforceable compliance and monitoring mechanisms; the full adoption and domestication of Open Government Partnership principles, including the establishment of citizen engagement platforms; and the adoption of transparent procurement systems anchored on open contracting and public access to procurement information.
CEHRAWS reiterates that while infrastructural progress under the present administration is visible and commendable, true governance excellence lies in the integration of development with accountability. Abia State stands at a critical juncture that demands the alignment of ongoing reforms with transparency, legality, and institutional integrity. The government must seize this opportunity not only to build roads and systems but also to build public trust. Anything short of this would fall below the constitutional expectations owed to the people.
Signed:
Okoye, Chuka Peter
Executive Director
cehraws@gmail.com | +234(0)808-035-1242(WhatsApp only)
Facebook: @cehraws
