The 36 states of the federation have spent N1.71 trillion on recurrent expenditures including allowances, foreign trips, office stationery, aircraft maintenance, and more in the first nine months of 2023.
This is according to an analysis of their budget performance reports sourced from Open Nigerian States, a budgIT-backed website that serves as a repository of government budget data.
24 states analysed by The PUNCH had budget implementation data covering the first three quarters of the year while 12 states had data for the first two quarters of the year.
Collectively, the states have spent N802.43bn on salaries across the data period available. If salaries were added, total recurrent spending would have been N2.52tn.
Other recurrent spending items covered in this report include the amount spent on foreign and domestic travel, Internet access fees, entertainment, foodstuff, honorarium/ sitting allowance, wardrobe allowances, telephone bills, electricity charges, stationery, anniversaries/special days, welfare, aircraft maintenance, and more.
Out of the 36 states, only 30 states have disbursed security votes (N87.45bn) so far. Also, the total borrowings of the states grew to N988bn as of the third quarter of 2023.
This is a cumulative findings of the expenses of the 36 states of the Federation and their total excesses on what they term “basics” in this current economic situation of the country.
