…..Says “Public Funds Must Serve Public Interest”
Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
A coalition of concerned citizens and taxpayers in Edo State have urged the state government to provide a full account of a reported official trip by members of the State Executive Council and other government officials to the United Kingdom, insisting that public funds must be managed with transparency and accountability.
The group, led by civil society advocate and Convener of Edo is One, Hon. Henry Osaro Asemota, expressed concern over reports that the government sponsored a delegation to the United Kingdom for what was described as a “meet and greet” programme.
According to the statement, while international engagements can serve legitimate government purposes such as attracting investment, strengthening institutional partnerships, promoting economic development, and enhancing capacity building, citizens have a right to know whether such trips were necessary, properly authorised, and delivered measurable benefits to the people.
The group noted that the demand for accountability comes at a time when Edo State continues to face significant developmental challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, unemployment, healthcare pressures, educational needs, and the economic hardship affecting many residents.
Describing its position as non-partisan, the group stressed that its call for transparency should not be interpreted as a political attack but as a legitimate demand by taxpayers for responsible management of public resources.
“We are not questioning international engagements in themselves.
“We are simply asking government to demonstrate that public funds were spent lawfully, prudently, and in the overriding public interest”, the statement said.
To address public concerns, the group urged the Edo State Government to disclose the total cost of the trip, the identities and official positions of all participants, the justification for each official’s participation, the authority under which the expenditure was approved, the source of funding, the official meetings held during the visit, and the specific outcomes expected to benefit Edo State.
The statement further announced plans to invoke the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, to formally request access to all records relating to the reported United Kingdom delegation.
Among the documents being requested are the official itinerary of the visit, the names and designations of all government officials who travelled, detailed expenditure records covering airfare, accommodation, estacodes, transportation, visa expenses, protocol and other related costs, as well as copies of approvals, procurement documents, correspondence, invitations, reports, agreements, memoranda of understanding, and any official records generated from the trip.
The group also requested a comprehensive statement detailing the economic, developmental, investment, institutional or strategic benefits expected to accrue to Edo State as a result of the engagement.
According to the statement, public resources belong to the people, while elected and appointed officials serve only as temporary custodians of those resources.
“Transparency is not an inconvenience to governance; it is one of the fundamental principles upon which good governance is built,” the statement said.
It added that if the trip was properly authorised, fiscally prudent and beneficial to Edo State, the relevant records should readily demonstrate those facts.
However, if public funds were expended without adequate justification or measurable public benefit, citizens are entitled to know why.
The group called on the Edo State Government to comply with the Freedom of Information Act by making the requested records publicly available, noting that the law guarantees citizens the right to access public information, subject only to legally recognised exemptions.
Concluding the statement, the group reiterated its demand in clear terms:”Show Edo people the records. Show us what was spent. Show us who travelled.
“Show us why they travelled. Show us what was achieved. And show Edo taxpayers the value received in return for their money.”
The statement reaffirmed the group’s commitment to promoting transparency, fiscal responsibility, open government and accountability in the management of Edo State’s public resources, maintaining that public office is a public trust and that taxpayers deserve full accountability for the use of public funds.
