A civil society organization, Initiative For Grassroot Advancement In Nigeria (INGRA) has frowned at the budgetary allocations for the office of the Deputy Governor of Kogi state in the appropriation bill submitted to State House of Assembly.
In a statement signed by the executive director, Hamza Aliyu, INGRA said the over N2billion 2020 budget estimates under the Deputy Governor’s office is not in the interest of the Kogi State citizens as they are not geared towards alleviating the biting poverty and infrastructure deficit in the state.
The CSO noted that it decided to take cursory glance at the budget estimates for the Office of the Deputy Governor after Governor Yahaya Bello, while presenting the 2020 draft budget to the House, explained that the poor performance of the 2019 budget is as a result of current economic situation in the country.
“The executive governor also stated that the state staff audit (screening) was necessitated by a bloated staff strength and that ‘these anomalies were choking life out of the state and worsening an already parlous socioeconomic situation’.
“From the above, it is clear to all concerned citizens of the state, especially the leadership, that the financial position of Kogi State is in dire situation thus calling for prudent financial management of our very limited and very scarce resources.
“It is based on this premises that a cursory glance at the budget estimates for the Office of the Deputy Governor leaves one with a bewilderment on the rationale for the seemingly ‘over bloated and unjustifiable’ resources intended to be spent by the Number 2 citizen of the state,” the statement read.
The civil society organization called for outright deletion of these budget line items and the virement of the funds to areas of the economy that are starved of funds though crucial to the well-being of the citizens.
“These areas include Kogi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS that has had a budget of N2.5m naira every year since 2016 and has never recorded release of a single Kobo. This must be a record of some sort in the expenditure history of Kogi State.
“Also, Kogi State Fiscal Responsibility Commission which since 2018 has not had any release of funds. The Kogi State Ministry of Works and Urban Renewal for the immediate construction of Ganaja Junction – Ganaja Village road which has become an eye sore and a death trap to motorists.”
In the alternative, INGRA said the funds should be reduced to realistic estimates and balance of the remaining funds vired to the above mentioned agencies.
INGRA extracted some of the budget estimate, describing it as frivilous:
| Budgetline Item | Code | Estimate | Remarks |
| Travel And Transport | 22020102 | 300,000,000 | This is unjustifiable and highly frivolous considering the state lean resources |
| Travelling Allowances | 22020110 | 50,000,000 | unjustifiable |
| Expenses Incidental To Governor’s Tour | 22020112 | 100,000,000 | This is unclear as there is already budget for this in the Kogi State Government House for the Governor. |
| Office Stationery/Computer Consumable | 22020301 | 100,000,000 | This is clearly unjustifiable and bogus |
| Maintenance Of Motor Vehicle/Transport Equipment | 22020401 | 100,000,000 | This is unjustifiable considering the number of vehicles in the Deputy Governor’s office |
| Maintenance Of Office Furniture And Fittings | 22020402 | 50,000,000 | Unjustifiable, frivolous and bogus |
| Maintenance Of Office Building / Residential Qtrs | 22020403 | 100,000,000 | Clearly this is another unclear, unjustifiable and bogus estimate |
| Purchase/Maintenance Of Plants/Generators | 22020404 | 50,000,000 | Unjustifiable |
| Maintenance Of Office Equipment | 22020405 | 40,000,000 | Unclear and unjustifiable. What type of “equipment” does a deputy Governor require these huge repair funds for? |
| Maintenance & Replacement Of Furniture And Fittings In Govt. Quarters | 22020419 | 50,000,000 | Unclear, repetition of budgetline item |
| Up-Keep Of Deputy Governor’s Office | 22020442 | 300,000,000 | This is unjustifiable, bogus and frivolous. A repetition of budgetline item |
| Maintenance Of Deputy Governor’s Lodge | 22020443 | 50,000,000 | Unclear, unjustifiable |
| Office And General Expenses | 22020679 | 100,000,000 | Bogus, unclear, unjustifiable and a repetition |
| Official Gifts & Protocol | 22020683 | 100,000,000 | Unjustifiable, frivolous |
| Motor Vehicle Fuel Cost | 22020801 | 20,000,000 | Unjustifiable |
| Other Transport Equipment Fuel Cost 500 | 22020802 | 2,000,000 | Unclear, unjustifiable |
| Cooking Gas/Fuel Cost | 22020804 | 2,000,000 | Unjustifiable |
| Refreshment, Meals And Hospitality (Meeting Expenses) | 22021001 | 20,000,000 | Unjustifiable, frivolous |
| Renovation & Furnishing Of Deputy Governor’s Lodge | 00130000030126 | 200,000,000 | Unjustifiable and frivolous |
| Furnishing Of Deputy Governor’s Office | 00130000030125 | 200,000,00 | Unjustifiable and frivolous |
| Rehabilitation/Repairs of Deputy Governor’s Residential Building | 00060000030106 | 200,000,000 | Unjustifiable and frivolous |
| Extension of Deputy Governor’s Office Complex | 00130000030155 | 60,000,000 | Unjustifiable and frivolous |
