Otti explains why Abia is not aggressive on IGR drive

By Peter Okore, Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has explained why his administration has not aggressively pursued internally generated revenue (IGR) since assuming office in 2023, saying the government first needed to rebuild critical sectors and improve the business environment before imposing additional tax burdens on residents.

Governor Otti stated this on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the BudgIT Foundation, a civic organisation focused on public finance transparency, accountability and citizens’ participation in governance, at Government House, Umuahia.

According to the governor, his administration met a state with weak infrastructure, poor healthcare, a struggling education sector and severe environmental challenges.

“Infrastructure was virtually non-existent. Education was at its lowest level. Healthcare was almost non-functional. There were 948 primary healthcare centres and none of them was working,” Otti said.

“The environment was completely filled with rubbish and mess all over the place. We became the dirtiest state in the country.”

He noted that under such conditions, the priority of government was to create an enabling environment for businesses and residents rather than intensify tax collection.

“The first thing you want to do in that situation is not to tax the people, but to create an environment for them to breathe and for their businesses to do well,” he stated.

“When you have done that, then you can now make a claim. People don’t give you what they don’t have.”

Speaking on fiscal sustainability, the governor described taxation as government’s share of the prosperity created within society.

“For me, taxation is the government’s share of the prosperity it has created among its people,” he said.

Otti disclosed that the state set an IGR target of N120 billion in 2025 but realised about N70 billion, while the target for the current year stands at N220 billion.

“So, we are not in competition in that area of fiscal sustainability. We have our targets, though we’ve not met them. This year’s target is N220 billion. I’m not sure we will hit it, but we keep making progress,” he added.

The governor stressed that his administration remains more concerned about improving the welfare of residents and creating opportunities for businesses to thrive.

“At the back of our minds is whether the people are happier than they were yesterday. Are their businesses doing better? Are our children able to go to school? If people are sick, do they have healthcare facilities close to them? Those are the things that matter most to us,” he said.

Otti also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to transparency and accountability, describing prudent management of public resources as central to good governance.

“The issue of transparency is not negotiable. We have had cause to part ways with some people because of transparency issues. It is the foundation of this government,” he stated.

“It is public service, public funding and people’s money. You must use it properly. Transparency sits at the centre of this administration.”

The governor assured the BudgIT delegation of the state government’s readiness to partner with the organisation in promoting transparency and accountability in governance.

Earlier, the Global Director of BudgIT Foundation, Oluseun Onigbinde, commended the governor for his commitment to fiscal transparency and accountability.

Onigbinde said the organisation seeks partnerships with governments in the areas of fiscal sustainability, transparency and social investment.

According to him, BudgIT’s objective is to encourage governments to uphold high standards of accountability, particularly in procurement processes and investments in social sectors.

Also speaking, the Country Director of the organisation, Vahyala Kwaga, praised the reforms introduced by the Otti administration, noting that Abia State had moved from 17th to 4th position in BudgIT’s fiscal transparency index within two years.

“Abia came fourth overall in the 2025 edition of the States Fiscal Transparency ranking. That is commendable and we want to see the state continue to lead in this area,” Kwaga said.

Top government officials present at the meeting included the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Uwaoma Ukandu; Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Kingsley Anosike; Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma; and the Accountant-General of the state, Mrs Njum Onyemenam.