PRP Slams Bauchi Government Over ₦29 Billion Overhead Spending in Six Months, Demands Probe
By Okafor Joseph Afam
September 30, 2024
The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) Bauchi State Chapter has criticized the Bauchi State Government over an alleged extravagant overhead expenditure of ₦29.6 billion within a six-month period. The PRP described the spending, as reported by WikkiTimes, as an insult to the people of Bauchi, many of whom are struggling under economic hardship.
In a statement signed by the party’s state secretary, Hon. Abdulazeez Haruna, and sent to SaharaReporters on Monday, the PRP expressed outrage over the “staggering sum of ₦29,627,828,398.53” allegedly spent by the Office of the Secretary to the Bauchi State Government (SSG) on overhead expenses. The party noted that this figure is nearly three times the total budget allocation of ₦9.1 billion for the office for the entire 2024 fiscal year.
The PRP’s statement denounced the spending as “outrageous” and “unacceptable,” particularly given the dire need for basic services and amenities across the state. “It is a slap in the face of the good people of Bauchi State, who are struggling to make ends meet in the midst of economic hardship,” the statement read.
The party further condemned the expenditure as frivolous and called for accountability. “It is unacceptable that the SSG’s office would squander such an astronomical amount of public funds on frivolous expenses, while the people of Bauchi State are crying out for basic amenities and services,” the PRP said.
In light of the revelations, the PRP urged anti-corruption agencies—the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC)—to immediately investigate the matter. The party demanded transparency and called for those responsible to be prosecuted.
“The PRP calls on the EFCC and ICPC to launch a thorough investigation into this scandalous expenditure. We need to know what constitutes this massive overhead expenditure and who the beneficiaries are. Those found guilty of corruption must be brought to justice.”
The party went on to accuse the Bauchi State Government of gross mismanagement and called on Governor Bala Mohammed to address the situation immediately. “This kind of reckless spending is a clear indication of a lack of accountability and transparency in the government. The people of Bauchi State deserve better than this level of incompetence and mismanagement.”
The PRP also urged citizens to join the call for transparency, vowing to pursue the matter until accountability is achieved. “We will not rest until those responsible for this scandal are held accountable, and the people of Bauchi State are given a government that truly serves their interests,” the statement concluded.
WikkiTimes had earlier reported that the office of the Secretary to the State Government spent ₦29.6 billion on overhead in just six months, despite the fact that the total budget for the office in 2024 was only ₦9.1 billion.
