We Kept N42.5 billion For Emeka Ihedioha….Okorocha

Barely 48hours to the handing over ceremony across the nation,the outgoing governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, has disclosed that his administration had kept N42.5 billion for his successor, Emeka Ihedioha, saying that he decided to keep such amount for the incoming governor so that there won’t be excuses in carrying out activities of government.

 

Okorocha explained that N8.1 billion was meant for the payment of salaries and capital projects, while N5.2 billion was for pension arrears.

 

The governor who disclosed this on Monday while swearing in eleven permanent secretaries,stated that N7.6 billion was meant for the renovation of schools, while N21.6 billion was mapped out for rural roads, totalling N42.5 billion.

 

The swearing in including the new Accountant-General and Permanent Secretary, Donald Igbo, and the new Head of Service, Ngozi Ama Eluma.

 

According to him, “Remember God in discharging your duties. Discharge your duties without fear or favour, and also defend your state when the need arises.

 

“I gave this state my best. I will do all I can to support the incoming government. Imo State government has kept aside a total of N42.5 billion for the incoming government, and for that reason, I will set up a sub-committee to make sure that the projects they are attached to, come to fruition even when I am out of office or when I will not be available, because government is a continuum.

 

“The breakdown of these funds are as follows: N8.1 billion that came into Imo State coffers from both state and LG, from FAAC, that money has not been expended as not even one naira has been taken away from it and the money is in Zenith Bank and has not been touched.

 

He said following petitions from chieftains of the PDP, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) blocked the money for the payment of arrears of pension and others, at the point of starting the payments.

 

Addressing the new permanent secretaries, the governor advised them to do their best to reposition the civil service system, protect the integrity of the state and shun corruption, adding that workers in the state civil service should put in their best in the service of their fatherland.

 

“The second money is N5.2 billion in Access Bank, the remnant of the Paris Club fund, not one naira has been removed from it.

 

“The third fund is N7.6 billion, money that came from UBEC. Imo State has paid a total of N3.8 billion counterpart fund and UBEC has brought in their N3.8 billion.

 

“That gave us N7.6 billion. That money is intact and not one naira has been removed from it. The fourth fund is the RAMP fund of $60 million, representing N21.6 billion and is also in Imo State government’s account.

 

“It is with First Bank. The money is also here in Imo State and no one naira has been touched.

 

“If you total N8.1 billion plus N5.2 billion, N7.6 billion, and N21.6 billion, you have a total of N42.5 billion which I will be handing over to Emeka Ihedioha led government as from the 29th of May, 2019.

 

“How are these money meant to be expended? I want to put it succinctly clear. The N8.1 billion from FAAC usually will cover the cost of salaries and capital projects.

 

 

“This government is expected to spend this N8.1 billion for the payment of salaries for May and also for the payment of other contractual obligations as may be deemed fit”.