OBINNA ORIAKU ON ABIA GOVERNMENT

THE DECEIT IN REVAMPING THE EDUCATION AND HEALTH SECTORS BY ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT

Abia State Government claimed it allocated 15% of the state budget to the health sector and 20% to education. The capital budget for 2024 was N475 billion out of a total of N567 billion. Education, at 20% of N475 billion, amounts to about N113 billion, while Health, at 15%, stands at N85 billion. However, the real impact of these budgetary allocations remains questionable.

From 2023 to 2024 as stated in the Abia state financial report ,approximately N60 billion was spent on the health sector, but little has changed on the ground. The only visible “improvements” have been cosmetic, such as the repainting of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH) and Specialist Hospitals in Umuahia, which appear to be part of a planned propaganda campaign rather than meaningful progress. General hospitals across the state, such as Okpuala Ngwa General Hospital, Ikwuano General Hospital, and Okeikpe General Hospital in Ukwa, remain in deplorable conditions, despite claims that work is ongoing. In contrast, Imo state government deployed the 13% derivation towards construction of 3 modern secondary health hospitals in the 3 senatorial zones of the State and there are mighty structures to show for it, unlike in Abia.

Just last week, despite no visible progress at the Umunneato General Hospital, the state government declared it a “specialist hospital,” offering nothing more than exaggerated name change and vague upliftment in status
rather than actual development. The only substantial project in the health sector is the renovation of Primary Health Centres (PHCs), funded by the World Bank through the National Primary Health Development Agency. The Abia State Government’s attempt to claim credit for this initiative was quickly exposed as false.

The education sector faces even more concerning issues. N54 billion of the N113 billion allocated for education, representing 49.7%, was written off for the “renovation” of public schools across the 17 local governments in Abia State. This amount was meant to restructure public schools and create a conducive learning environment. However, a recent report exposed the disappearance of this N54 billion, and while the state government’s spokesperson acknowledged the write-off, no visible progress in school renovations has been made.

Abia’s public schools continue to be plagued by leaking roofs, insufficient furniture, and dilapidated infrastructure. If basic school renovation issues remain unaddressed, the promised AbiaFirst Education Transformation agenda is nothing more than a smokescreen to deceive the people of Abia State.

Moreover, the state government failed to address critical needs such as school feeding programs, which previously helped increase school enrollment from 300,000 to 800,000 students in public schools. The economic situation in the state makes it even more difficult for parents to send their children to school, particularly when basic needs such as food and proper learning environments are not being met.
The free and compulsory education being bandied by the State Government is still a MIRAGR as Principals of Senior Secondary school students are being forced to collect 5k ( Five Thousand Naira) as Administrative fee from Students SS1 to SS3. If they deny it I have receipts as usual.

Abia State’s failure to access over N6 billion in UBEC matching grants due to alleged fraud and conflicts of interest in the choice of bank is another indicator of the government’s ineptitude. In contrast, Enugu State has emerged as a top performer in UBEC performance indicators among the 36 States , with a 33% budget allocation for education, surpassing the UNESCO-recommended 26%. Enugu has also cleared its backlog of unaccessed matching grants, using the funds to build 260 Smart Green Schools across the state and introduce skill-based subjects like Robotics, Mechatronics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Experiential Learning at the primary school level. Enugu’s efforts under Governor Peter Mbah have positioned the state as a model for educational advancement in Nigeria.

In light of the stark contrast between the educational investments in Enugu and Abia, the AbiaFirst agenda, which claims to prioritise educational transformation, rings hollow. Abia’s inability to address basic issues like school infrastructure raises serious questions about the government’s commitment to its people.

NB: I am aware of clandestine moves to silence me with false allegations and subsequent arrest attempts. However, having faced similar challenges before and emerged unscathed, I am confident that this government will fail in its attempts as well.

Obinna Oriaku
Ekwedike