State governors are spending billions on renovation and construction of new government houses despite their precarious financial situation, investigations by 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE have shown.
This is coming at a time majority of the governors can’t meet up with their basic financial obligations such as regular payment of workers salaries, implementation of the national minimum wage or even retirees pension, among others.
This newspaper’s findings revealed that at least six northern state governors are building and repairing Government Houses in their respective states to the tune of N30 billion.
Analysis of media reports from 2018 to date have shown that while some of the projects were initiated by their predecessors, the governors had reviewed the initial concepts, thereby gulping more funds.
These states have more public-centric pressing issues that requires their attention and funding such as renovation and equipping of schools, hospitals, roads, among others .
Zamfara’s new Gov’t House gulps N7 billion
Zamfara state Governor Muhammed Bello Matawalle, in January 2020, earmarked N7 billion for the construction of a new Government House.
The secretary to the state government, Bala Bello, who defended the budget at the Zamfara State House of Assembly said the new Government House was desirable, because the present one was the Gusau local government Secretariat during the old Sokoto State, and had been in use since the state was created in 1996.
Zamfara state has been in the news in recent times due to the activities of armed bandits. The bandits recently abducted over 300 students at Government Girls’ Secondary School, Jangebe in Talata Mafara Local Government Area.
The state has the lowest literacy level in the Northwest, and the second-lowest rate after Yobe state, in the country.
Taraba votes N6 billion for ‘befitting’ Gov’t House
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reports that bidding for the new Taraba State Government House was recently concluded and is to gulp N6 billion.
During the inspection of the site in 2018, the state Governor Darius Ishaku said the reason for the multi-billion naira project was to give the state a befitting Government House, which he said he was in the best position to do that being an architect by profession.
Against the backdrop of the new Government House, Taraba state is yet to implement the N30,000 National Minimum wage for its workers. As of October last year, state workers down tool due to the government’s failure to pay the new national minimum wage. Academic staff of state tertiary institutions also vowed to stay away from the school environment till their demands are met.
Niger earmarks N3.7 billion for the project
Niger State, which is fast becoming a strong hold of bandits and which is battling deteriorating school’s structures, as evident from the pictures of Government Science College Kagara after the abductions of some students, is also renovating it Government House to the tune of Niger N3.7 billion.
The project was initiated by the administration of former Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu in 2014 with about N75 million in preparation for the incoming government but the job was stalled by lack of funds. It was, however, raised to N3.7 billion by the current administration of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello.
Kogi spent N1.4 billion on renovation
In Kogi state, despite Governor Yahya Bello’s inability to pay staff full salaries since he assumed office in 2016, he spent N1.4 billion to renovate the Kogi Government House. However, amid the cash crunch occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the state was unable to pay N726 million contract settlement with the Lebanese contractor, Maj Global Construction Company Ltd.
Bauchi’s reconstruction to guzzle N6.2 billion
Also, the Bauchi state government is spending N6.2 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation of its old Government House in Bauchi city. The state Governor Bala Mohammed said during a groundbreaking that the reason was to give the state a befitting government house, similar to those in other states.
The governor also said that he believed the project would gladden the hearts of those who voted for his administration, irrespective of the party divide.
Benue’s repairs gulp N455 million
An investigation by 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE also revealed that Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom had spent N455 million on the reconstruction and expansion of Aper Aku lodge located within Government House, Makurdi.
The project was started in 2016 but completed in 2019. Construction of other parts of the Government House began in 2020, though the government did not disclosed the actual amount it is expending on it.
Among others, Governor Ortom is owing retirees of Benue state 75 months pension as revealed by the state chapter of NLC on Saturday during 2021 workers’ day in Makurdi.
