The approved budget of the Ministry of Finance was transferred to the Imo Government for the N2.5 billion spent on government vehicles by Governor Uzodimma.
The Imo State House of Assembly’s approved 2023 budget has no mention of budgetary allocation, according to a copy of the state budget performance report that SaharaReporters was able to secure.
N2.5 billion spent on government vehicles by Governor Uzodimma
According to the Imo State Government, Governor Uzodimma purchase of N2.5 billion worth of “Government House vehicles” between October and December 2023 is authorized by law.
The Imo State House of Assembly’s approved 2023 budget has no mention of budgetary allocation, according to a copy of the state budget performance report that SaharaReporters was able to secure.
The state government’s website hosted the report, which was named “Imo State Fourth Quarter (October – December) 2023 Budget Performance.”
The paper claims that nothing indicates that the governor spent N2.5 billion on the cars in less than three months, despite the fact that the sum was authorized in the Imo 2023 budget for the purchase of Government House vehicles.
The governor also spent an additional N2.3 billion on the Imo Security Organization without the state assembly’s permission or financial allocation.
In response, Barr (Mrs.) Oby Amadiobi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information and Strategy, stated in a statement on Tuesday that the N4 billion allocated in the 2023 budget for the Ministry of Finance to acquire cars was used to finance the acquisition of the vehicles.
The Nigerian constitution, which states that governors’ spending beyond what is authorized in the budget is extra-budgetary and unconstitutional, may be violated by the government’s stance.
That was really deceptive. The range of departments that are beyond the Ministries is referred to when we discuss Government House. SAs and other authorities are entitled to cars. The governor’s office oversees all of these divisions and offices. Therefore, it is nefarious to have a swollen report implying that the governor, his spouse, and the deputy governor are the only ones with the cars.
“We have nothing to hide, as evidenced by the fact that the story originated on the government website,” the statement said.
