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Preamble:
Our attention has been drawn to the publication by Tony Umeh, one of the many names used by the detractors of the Anambra State government to discredit the wonderful works going on right now in Anambra State. While it must be understood that distractions are very unnecessary but unavoidable part of governance, it is also of utmost importance that the records be set straight. Let me make it clear, that no funds were embezzled as alleged by Tony Umeh. Let me also make it very clear that I am not a part of the committee set up for the elderly payment. I was only directed to go and make sure that proper logistics for disbursement which enables the elders to get their money was put in place by the committee.
The Chief of Staff was drafted into the committee but the demands of his office made it difficult for him to be a part of the meetings. He was never part of the meetings and was never involved in disbursement of funds in any way, form or shape.
The principal secretary was also not a part of the committee. The same communication that demanded that I make sure that proper logistics is in place, also called on the Principal Secretary to collaborate with me because he is the one authorizing the release of the funds from the financial institution. He was not a committee member neither was he involved in disbursing funds to the elderly.
Mr. Ben Obi has nothing to do with the payment. Never a committee member, did not have any clue what happened directly or indirectly. I do not know how his name came to be mentioned while the names of other key memebers of the committee who anchored the payment were carefully avoided.
Method:
The register used for the payment is the exact same one used by the previous administration to make the same payment ( please note that this payment was made only once by the previous administration in their last year in office and not monthly as erroneously reported by Tony Umeh) just few months before the present administration took office. Each town has their own booklet and Civil Servants were deployed to make the payments. Funds were released in stages to give room for proper accounting and reconciliation before further action.
Findings / Observations:
The method utilized in the disbursement of funds (filing out a fresh form and thumb printing on the spot before collection) made it very easy to identify fake names and names of those who are dead, and those that were under the age of 75years but were paid in the past. When it became evident that the committee has made reasonable payment and have equally discovered lots of fake names, duplicated names, dead people and those under 75years. I, personally called for accounts and reconciliation of disbursed funds before further payment. I equally advised Mr. Willie Nwokoye, the principal secretary never to authorize the release of any more funds until the disbursed funds are accounted for and he took the advise. The attention of the Governor was called to this and because the Chief of Staff traveled out of the country at the time, the Deputy Governor was asked to assist in the reconciliation.
Conclusion:
During the reconciliation with the Deputy Governor, it was observed that we cannot continue the payment with the documents provided by the previous administration until the problems observed regarding fake names, duplicated names, dead people and those under the approved age of 75years are resolved. I was duely informed by one of the people who helped to gather the names that during collation of names, people thought that the names were meant to be used for their community census and as such were including all kinds of people, even people who died years ago. The released but yet to be disbursed funds which is less than 10 million was returned for save keeping pending the resolution of the identified problems.
Tony Umeh’s mischief proper :
We have 177 communities in Anambra State. More than 160 communities have been paid as at the time of the reconciliation . The entire money budgeted for this payment is 90 Million. As at the time of the reconciliation, 70 Million naira was released and the balance still left with the financial institution. 8 million from already released but not yet disbursed fund as at the time stop payment was initiated for accounting and reconciliation purposes was returned to the financial institution for save keeping.
Can Tony Umeh explain to us how 93 Million Naira was embezzled from a total budget of 90 Million after more than half of the total budget was spent in paying over 160 communities.
The truth remains that ” WILLIE IS WILLINGLY WORKING AND THE PEOPLE ARE HAPPY“.
All efforts to diminish the achievements of GOV. WILLIE OBIANO in such a short period of time will continue to hit brick walls maka na aka chukwu di ya. Is it not wonderful and a positive sign that people are today comparing the previous administrations 8 years in office to Gov Obiano’s 16 Months in office.
Sincerely
Primus U. Odili
Senior Special Assistant
on Special Duties
to the Executive Governor of
Anambra State.
