A diaspora group, Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has kicked against alleged moves by the Ebonyi state government to allegedly spend about N4 billion to cushion the effects of Covid-19 in the state.
AESID President worldwide Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu argued that there is the need for the state government to render account of the earlier N4 billion expended as COVID 19 palliative in the state.
The group claimed it has information that the state government was planning to spend another N4 billions on palliative to the citizens.
The group in a statement made available to newsmen Tuesday argued: “Of course, we still recall the hues and cries of the Ebonyi poor masses over the extremely bizarre food items which included few sachets of noodles shared to just a hand-few of particularly party loyalists in the guise of palliatives after a very protracted period by the government.
“Otherwise, how can Ebonyi state that never recorded more COVID-19 cases than states like Lagos claim to have now proposed to spend over N8bn? What kind of palliatives would take away over N4bn from the coffers of a government with lean allocation like that of our dear Ebonyi state?
“There is actually nothing less to suspect except to conclude that this is not just another hoax but another masterfully-designed plot by the Governor Umahi administration to siphon Ebonyi’s poor treasury!
“As a non-interest group whose mandate remains to continue to hold state actors accountable, AESID is calling on the Ebonyi state government to halt the proposed plan to lavish another whooping N4bn under the façade of COVID-19 palliatives
The group called on anti-graft agencies to monitor closely the usage of the palliative in the event the state goes ahead with it.
