…urges transparency over local government allocations; defends Dr. Chima Matthew Amadi’s advocacy

OWERRI — The Mazi Organization (TMO), a coalition of Imo State indigenes that advocates transparency and good governance, has urged the state government to publish audited accounts of federal allocations and other funds to ensure effective service delivery across local government areas.

Speaking at a press conference in Owerri, TMO spokesman Cajetan Duke said the group was concerned about the state of public infrastructure and urged greater transparency in the use of federal allocations to local governments. The organisation called for published, audited reports of FAAC receipts and expenditures and said independent scrutiny would help restore public confidence.

TMO criticised a recent press briefing by a group saying the statements made at that briefing were unsubstantiated and risked distracting attention from calls for accountability. The organisation emphasised that its criticisms are directed at governance issues and processes rather than at any individual’s character.

Citing figures it said were from the Federal Ministry of Finance, TMO said that between 2020 and 2025 the 27 local government areas in Imo State had collectively received huge money in federal allocations. The group argued that many public facilities — including schools, health centres, roads and recreational facilities — show little evidence of improvement and called for detailed reconciliations of how funds were applied at LGA level.

TMO endorsed recent public calls by Dr. Chima Matthew Amadi for the release and proper accounting of constitutionally guaranteed allocations to local governments, and described Amadi’s advocacy for greater transparency and for support to indigent families as legitimate civic action.

“The concern is simple and practical: the people require clear, audited accounts and evidence of visible projects,” Duke said. “Every kobo that has accrued to Imo State since 2020 should be accounted for.”

The coalition requested targeted audits and information on specific projects and funding streams, including UBEC disbursements, ecological funds, WASH and relevant externally funded interventions. It also asked the Imo State House of Assembly to publish details of all loans approved for the state’s administration.

TMO further called on relevant federal authorities to ensure due process in any investigation or enforcement action and urged that such actions be transparent and free from political interference. The group appealed to civil society, pro-democracy organisations and residents of Imo to support efforts that promote accountability and improved public service delivery.

In closing, TMO thanked Imo residents for their engagement and urged peaceful, lawful advocacy for transparent governance. The statement was signed by Cajetan Duke, JP, spokesman for TMO.