Edo govt claims Obaseki left over ₦1.2trn in debts

Edo State’s Accountant-General, Mr. Julius Anelu, revealed that as of November 11, 2024, the state’s internal debt stood at ₦1 trillion, while the external debt was ₦282 billion. He attributed the rise in the debt profile to the depreciation of the naira.

Anelu made this disclosure during a meeting with the Edo State Assets Verification Committee. He further explained that his office had requested account statements from all banks in the state with which the government had transactions, to assist in the committee’s work.

He pledged to provide the committee with all necessary documents to facilitate their work, emphasizing his commitment to transparency. On the issue of contract executions and payments, Anelu explained that most payments were processed through commercial banks, with First Bank Plc serving as a primary financial intermediary for contractors.

He also noted that the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning would appear before the committee to discuss the state’s budget implementation and performance since 2017.

Anelu assured the committee of his full cooperation, stating he would provide all relevant documents, including payment vouchers for transactions under his oversight. He stressed that, as a civil servant, he had no reason to withhold information, as it was his duty to ensure transparency in the state’s financial dealings.

He also noted that some transactions were handled through the office of the Secretary to the State Government, although all payments were processed through his office.

Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at NeptunePrime.

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