In the first three months of 2024, thirty state governments in Nigeria collectively spent N986.64 billion on recurrent expenditures, covering items such as refreshments, sitting allowances, travel expenses, and utilities, according to Valid View Network.
The data was analyzed from budget implementation reports available on Open Nigerian States, a platform supported by BudgIT that houses public budget information.
Out of the 36 states, six states—Benue, Imo, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, and Yobe—did not have data available for the first quarter of 2024.
The analysis revealed the following spending breakdowns:
- N5.1 billion on refreshments for guests.
- N4.67 billion on sitting allowances for government officials.
- N34.63 billion on local and foreign travel expenses.
- N5.64 billion on utility bills.
In total, N50.02 billion was spent on these items alone in the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the states paid N405.77 billion in salaries to their workers.
Other recurrent spending covered costs related to internet access, entertainment, food, honorariums, wardrobe allowances, telephone bills, electricity charges, stationery, special days, welfare, and aircraft maintenance.
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Specific state expenditures included:
- Abia State: N10.92 billion on recurrent expenditures, including N165.38 million on refreshments, N39.26 million on utilities, N214.57 million on sitting allowances, and N127.1 million on travel.
- Adamawa State: N23.7 billion on recurrent expenditures, including N287.61 million on refreshments, N109.62 million on utilities, N79.57 million on sitting allowances, and N768.77 million on travel.
- Akwa Ibom State: N46.85 billion on recurrent expenditures, including N4.46 million on refreshments, N223.32 million on utilities, N6 million on sitting allowances, and N214.61 million on travel.
- Anambra State: N9.91 billion on recurrent expenditures, including N78.18 million on refreshments, N32.52 million on utilities, N42.09 million on sitting allowances, and N188.39 million on travel.
- Bauchi State: N35.75 billion on recurrent expenditures, including N397.58 million on utilities, N50.8 million on refreshments, N287.11 million on allowances, and N413.56 million on travel.
- Bayelsa State: N35.1 billion on recurrent expenditures, including N28.4 million on utilities, N156.14 million on refreshments, and N279.99 million on travel.
Lagos State recorded the highest spending with N189.62 billion on recurrent expenditures, including N1.21 million for refreshments, N383.12 million for utilities, N52.79 million for sitting allowances, and N633.37 million for travel.
Other states and their expenditures included:
- Borno: N18.79 billion
- Cross River: N17.44 billion
- Delta: N68.68 billion
- Ebonyi: N14.95 billion
- Edo: N32.32 billion
- Ekiti: N32.8 billion
- Enugu: N7.51 billion
- Gombe: N20.89 billion
- Jigawa: N15.52 billion
- Kaduna: N34.69 billion
- Kano: N34.41 billion
- Katsina: N21.87 billion
- Kebbi: N11.67 billion
- Kogi: N37.4 billion
- Kwara: N24.34 billion
- Nasarawa: N18.61 billion
- Ogun: N47.12 billion
- Ondo: N31.12 billion
- Osun: N24.39 billion
- Oyo: N40.12 billion
- Plateau: N24.70 billion
- Zamfara: N13.46 billion
- Taraba: N20.93 billion
Government spending has come under increased scrutiny due to the country’s economic challenges.
Financial experts have raised concerns about high recurrent expenditures, emphasizing the need for states to embrace financial innovations.
Aliyu Ilias, a development economist, pointed out that many states have yet to develop industrial and marketable sectors to attract investors.
He suggested that states should focus on their strengths to attract foreign investments.
Prof. Akpan Ekpo, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, urged states to increase their revenue by improving service delivery.
Prof. Segun Ajibola of Babcock University highlighted the high cost of governance and the lack of oversight and accountability at the state level, which results in minimal economic benefits for citizens.
He called for state assemblies to fulfill their oversight duties to ensure transparency and accountability in governance.
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