OPINION: PLSI Official Speaks on Abia’s Controversial Ranking on Transparency Assessment

Sunday Taiwo, an associate of Paradigm Leadership Support Initiative (PLSI) has stated possible reasons why Abia State was ranked among the worst-performing states in transparency and accountability.

Mr.Taiwo cited poor access to public records, weak compliance with accountability laws, and lack of official engagement.

Speaking exclusively in an interview with FLO FM News, the organisation’s Communication Associate said the state’s low rating was largely driven by the absence and inaccessibility of key government documents required for public scrutiny.

According to him, a major parameter used in the assessment was the availability of critical public documents, including the Citizens’ Accountability Report, budget performance reports, and other fiscal disclosures expected to keep citizens informed about government activities.

“One of the key things we looked at is the availability of public sector documents. In Abia State, many of these documents are either not available or not accessible to the public,” Taiwo said.

He noted that several of the documents reviewed were either missing or could not be found on official platforms, particularly online channels, thereby undermining transparency.

Taiwo also highlighted a gap between legal provisions and actual practice, explaining that although laws supporting transparency and financial accountability exist, their implementation remains largely ineffective.

“There are laws in place, but the issue is implementation. When those provisions are not practiced, accountability is weakened,” he added.

He further disclosed that efforts to obtain primary data from the Abia State Government proved unsuccessful, as questionnaires sent to relevant officials and invitations for validation meetings received no response.

“As part of our methodology, we engage state actors to validate findings before publication. However, in this case, there was no response, so we relied on secondary data and independent verification,” he said.

Taiwo explained that where information cannot be found through rigorous public searches or credible platforms, it is considered unavailable for the purpose of the assessment.

“If a document exists and is meant for the public, it should be accessible. If after thorough searches we cannot find it, then it is treated as unavailable,” he stated.

He emphasized that transparency goes beyond policy declarations, stressing that public disclosure, accessibility of information, and citizen engagement remain key indicators of accountable governance.

Abia was ranked alongside Plateau, Imo, and Rivers states, all cited for similar shortcomings in transparency practices.