THISDAY

FG Owes Anambra N34bn on Federal Roads, Says Obiano

- Charles Onyekamuo in Awka

Anambra State Government, Chief Willie Obiano has alleged that the federal government owed his state N34.billion spent on the repair of federal roads and bridges in different parts of the state.

The Governor who spoke during an interactiv­e session with Journalist at his lodge in Awka yesterday said he would not embark on the repair of more dilapidate­d federal roads across the state until the money owed the state was paid because it was taking a toll in the state`s finances.

He said it was worrisome the money owed the state was not reflected in the now controvers­ial federal 2016 budget presented by President Muhammad Buhari to the National Assembly, even as he expressed optimism that the budget was still be amenable to amendment.

His administra­tion he said had assembled a 20 member task force with the mandate to maintain dilapidate­d state roads, adding that the three flyovers being constructe­d at three points on the Awka end of Enugu- Onitsha express way at a cost of about N9billion would be ready by the end of May this year.

The flyovers, he insisted, would add to the aesthetic value of Awka as the capital of the state and realise his dream of making it one of the best capital cities in the world.

The Governor said that his administra­tion had discovered more 350 ghost workers in the state`s civil service in addition to the 500 earlier detected.

The discovery he said would reduce waste and avoidable government expenditur­e visaviz the dwindling returns from oil revenue and low Internally Generated Revenue receipts.

He nonetheles­s said his administra­tion had worked hard to improve revenue generated internally by the state having shored up the N500m monthly receipts he met on assumption of office in March 2014 to about N1.2billion presently.

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