A recent investigation has revealed that Kogi, Zamfara, and eight other Nigerian states have collectively spent a staggering N14.7 billion on refreshments, sitting allowances, and other non-essential expenses, despite facing dire challenges in infrastructure development. This revelation raises serious concerns about the allocation of state resources at a time when key sectors, including healthcare, education, and transportation, are in desperate need of investment.
The investigation highlights that, over the past year, these states have allocated significant portions of their budgets to cover the costs of refreshment and sitting allowances for public officeholders, including legislators, state executives, and other government officials. These funds were primarily used to cater for meetings, official ceremonies, and allowances for sitting during legislative sessions.
The analysis of the financial reports from Kogi, Zamfara, and the other eight states revealed that, while spending on critical sectors such as healthcare, roads, and education remained underfunded, large sums were diverted to non-essential administrative costs. In total, the N14.7 billion expenditure represents a significant portion of the annual budgets of these states, which are struggling to meet basic infrastructure needs.
Kogi State allocated approximately N2.5 billion to sitting allowances and refreshments for officials in the past year, despite ongoing infrastructure deficiencies.
Zamfara State spent over N1.8 billion in similar non-productive expenditures, with severe gaps in educational facilities and healthcare infrastructure.
Other states including Ogun, Delta, Enugu, Benue, Kano, Sokoto, Bauchi, and Imo have also been found to misdirect significant portions of their budgets toward non-essential government costs, leaving citizens to contend with poor infrastructure.