Bauchi allocates ₦67.39bn for security votes, outpacing health, education spending at ₦47.79bn combined
The Bauchi state government has spent an astounding ₦67.39 billion on controversial security votes over the past four years, according to sources.
In contrast, the combined capital expenditure for education and healthcare during the same period totaled ₦47.79 billion.
A review of Bauchi’s Budget Performance reports from 2021 to the first quarter of 2024 revealed that security vote expenditures have significantly outpaced those for health and education.
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In 2021, security votes amounted to ₦12.78 billion, while capital expenditures for health and education were ₦5.62 billion and ₦11.49 billion, respectively.
The 2022 performance report showed security expenses nearly doubled to ₦21.77 billion. Health expenditure increased to ₦7.68 billion, but funding for education was reduced to ₦5.88 billion compared to the previous year.
The reports indicate that in 2023, Bauchi incurred significant security vote expenditures totaling ₦23.47 billion, while the health sector saw improvements with spending of ₦10.08 billion. The education sector also experienced a slight increase, reaching ₦6.38 billion compared to 2022.
In the first quarter of 2024, between January and March, security votes amounted to ₦9.37 billion, while spending on health and education was minimal, at ₦618.33 million and ₦54.07 million, respectively.
The analysis shows that Bauchi’s expenditure on security has significantly increased over the years, while funding for education and healthcare has fluctuated, highlighting a growing prioritization of security. This shift has led to inadequate service delivery in schools and health facilities.
Despite not facing severe security issues like Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa, observers argue that Bauchi needs to reassess its resource allocation to address the various challenges affecting the state.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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