The Auditor-General of Anambra State, Mr. Okocha Akosa, has sounded a public alarm concerning a significant sum of money that remains unaccounted for within the state's government. He disclosed that a total of N750 million is missing from the coffers of various Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) for the 2024 fiscal year.
Audit Queries Show Improvement, But Concerns Persist
Mr. Akosa made this troubling revelation during the 2025 Audit Forum and Citizens Accountability Dialogue held in Awka. He pointed out, however, that the situation represents a drastic improvement compared to the previous year. In the 2023 financial year, the total value of unresolved audit queries stood at a staggering N2.5 billion.
He credited the reduction to the proactive measures implemented by his office since he assumed the role. "My office ensures that expectation gaps, lapses and other breaches are identified as they occur and are rectified," Akosa stated. He added that these observed breaches are now reduced to the barest minimum.
The Auditor-General noted that some of the implicated MDAs have begun to respond, providing documented evidence to clarify issues raised in the unresolved queries concerning their entities.
Experts Decry Poor Revenue Performance and Governance Lapses
Other speakers at the forum echoed deep concerns about the state's financial management. A Principal Consulting Accountant, Mr. Ademola Okeleye, presented a graphic analysis of the 2024 revenue, showing most revenue windows performed poorly.
For instance, while N29,441,744,000 was anticipated from Tax receipts, only N28,199,899,033 was realised, representing a mere 4.22% of the target. Okeleye described as "literally scandalous" the fact that none of the 51 statutory administrative subheads in the 2024 appropriation, including the Governor's office, achieved an aggregate performance of about 65%.
He highlighted the particularly poor performance of the Office of the Accountant General, which recovered only N120,326,747 out of a proposed N710,000,000, a mere 16.95%. "With this awful scenario, how does anyone expect the relevant workers to do well or put in their best?" he questioned.
Calls for Systemic Reform and Citizen Involvement
Professor Tochukwu Okafor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University emphasized the critical role of accountants and auditors as the life wire of any organization. She lamented that despite a subsisting law since 2020 for establishing Directors of Audit in government units, it has not been implemented. Records show most government offices operate without an internal auditor, and the State's Accountant General also doubles as the Permanent Secretary.
Dr. Adokwe Ekene of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in a presentation titled "Robust Financial System, A Panacea for Good Governance," stated that good governance is the single most important factor in eradicating poverty. He decried the anachronistic mindset of civil servants who hoard information, noting that transparency is key to ending corruption.
Mr. Okeleye concluded with a strong call to action, urging increased citizen involvement in decision-making, regular tax payments, access to information, and active feedback to promote transparency, reduce corruption, and enhance trust in government.
