Paraíba government increases funds to association led by secretary's relative

Public resource transfers to the Paraíba Association of Goat and Sheep Breeders (APACCO) have increased significantly following the administration of Governor Lucas Ribeiro. Data from the Paraíba State Court of Accounts (TCE-PB) shows that in the first eight months of 2026, APACCO received approximately R$ 29.5 million through 34 payments, averaging R$ 868,000 per transfer.

This represents a 650% increase in the monthly average compared to 2025, which saw monthly averages of R$ 491,600. The surge follows the appointment of Júnior Nóbrega, the former president of APACCO, as the Secretary of State for Agricultural Development and Fisheries (Sedap).

Critics and members of the productive sector have raised concerns regarding equity, noting that the association is currently led by Andson Adriano Sousa Silva, the nephew of Secretary Nóbrega’s wife. Observers suggest that the concentration of funds in a single entity managed by allies may be sidelining other significant regional associations, such as the Brazilian Zebu Breeders Association (ABCZ) and the Nelore Paraíba Nucleus.