The Abia State Government has urged mayors of the 17 Local Government Areas and other senior government officials to strengthen financial and administrative control systems to prevent the diversion and mismanagement of public resources.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Nwachukwu, gave the charge on Thursday, during the opening of a two-day Anti-Corruption Sensitisation Programme organised in collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) at the JAAC Secretariat, Umuahia.
Nwachukwu said the administration of Governor Alex Otti was committed to conducting government business with discipline, transparency and a focus on measurable results, stressing that the principles must guide operations across the 17 local government areas.
He maintained that local governments must move beyond their traditional administrative responsibilities and become active contributors to grassroots development, economic growth and the improvement of residents’ living conditions.
According to him, the state government’s interventions in agriculture, youth empowerment, rural infrastructure and local economic development require adequate funding and effective coordination, making responsible management of available resources imperative.
He stressed that the success of government programmes should be measured by the results achieved rather than the amount of money released.
“The success of any government programme is not determined by the amount of money released. It is determined by what is achieved with that money.
“A project that exists only on paper is not development. An expenditure without proper accountability is not good governance. And an approval that disregards established procedures cannot be justified simply because the intention was good,” he said.
Nwachukwu urged executive mayors and senior local government officials to take responsibility for maintaining financial discipline and administrative integrity through proper record-keeping, transparent procurement processes, effective supervision and timely financial reporting.
He warned that the delegation of responsibilities should not be mistaken for the abandonment of oversight, urging local government leaders to strengthen internal controls, documentation and compliance with financial regulations.
The commissioner said the training was expected to provide practical guidance to public officers on their legal obligations and the proper management of public resources.
He also called for practical recommendations from the programme to strengthen administrative and financial control systems across the 17 local government areas.
“We cannot continue to attend workshops, collect certificates and return to our offices to do things exactly the same way. There must be a difference,” he said.
He assured the ICPC of the ministry’s readiness to collaborate with the commission in promoting integrity and institutional accountability, urging participants to take the programme seriously.
In her goodwill message, the ICPC representative, Chinwe Egbeocha, commended the commissioner and the ministry for extending the programme to all local government structures, describing the initiative as an indication of the state’s commitment to fighting corruption.
She disclosed that the ICPC office covering Abia and Imo states had previously conducted its activities in Imo State, adding that the sensitisation programme marked its first visit to Abia for such an engagement.
“This is the first place we are coming, and we like the reception. We are also happy that many people are in the hall, even before we came,” Egbeocha said.
She urged participants to take advantage of the programme to ask questions and seek clarification on issues relating to corruption, stressing that the engagement was not politically motivated.
“This is an opportunity for some of you seeing ICPC staff in person, and an opportunity for you to ask all the questions agitating your minds about corruption. We are not going to talk about politics,” she said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lady Oge Maduka, commended the ICPC for initiating the programme and partnering with the ministry to strengthen accountability and ethical conduct in local government administration.
She also appreciated the commissioner for his leadership and support towards the successful organisation of the programme.
Maduka observed that corruption did not necessarily begin with large sums of money or major scandals, explaining that it could start with seemingly minor acts such as bending rules, ignoring established procedures or deliberately overlooking wrongdoing in public offices.
She reminded participants that public officers occupied positions of trust and that their decisions and management of resources had direct consequences for ordinary citizens, particularly at the grassroots.
The permanent secretary said the Otti administration had placed renewed emphasis on transparency, accountability and a different approach to governance, urging public servants to reflect these values in their daily responsibilities.
She maintained that good intentions alone were insufficient without adequate knowledge of the rules and the ability to identify situations that could expose public officers to violations of the law.
Maduka urged participants to take advantage of the engagement, ask practical questions and ensure that the knowledge acquired translated into improved professional conduct and a public service culture anchored on integrity.
