The amount is contained in the state’s 2024 appropriation bill of N258,278,501,339.00 signed into law by the immediate past governor of the state, Yahaya Bello.
The Kogi State government will in 2024 spend N500,000,000 for the “production of customised staff of office for graded chiefs” amidst harsh economic conditions facing residents of the state.
The amount is contained in the state’s 2024 appropriation bill of N258,278,501,339.00 signed into law by the immediate past governor of the state, Yahaya Bello.
They include Obaro of Kabba palace which is expected to cost the state government N350 million and Agbana of Isanlu palace which will gulp N250 million.
Both communities are in Kabba/Bunu local government areas of the state.
A mosque in the government house in Lokoja will also cost the state N50 million, part of the 2024 appropriation read.
This is coming when residents of the state like other Nigerians are going through a spike in cost of living and hunger.
In 2023, SaharaReporters exclusively reported how the immediate administration spent the sum of N727,818,000 to purchase two Toyota buses for members of the State House of Assembly.
The newspaper also revealed that the Bello-led government spent extra N647.8million without appropriation to make the purchase.
The lawmakers had approved N80million for the purchase of the two Toyota buses in the 2023 budget.
“011200300100 – KOGI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY Members’ 30 Seater two(2) Nos Toyota Bus N80,000,000.00 – N727,818,000.00 – N727,818,000.00,” the state 2023 Q3 budget performance had read.
Also, “Consultancy Expenses on Full Automation of Budget Process/Bello Care Financial Solution” has gulped N360,945,179.00 in the last 9 months. 022000100100 – MINISTRY OF FINANCE, BUDGET AND ECONOMIC PLANNING Consultancy Expenses on Full Automation of Budget Process/Bello Care Financial Solution. N450,000,000.00 – N360,945,179.00 80.2%.”
A further check on the document revealed that N951,493,735.24 was spent on honorarium, refreshment, meals and welfare in the first nine months of 2023.
A total N11,281,497.52 was also spent between January and September on burial expenses.
The state lawmakers had allocated N64.5 million for such expenses in the budget.