Amid Nigeria’s worsening cost-of-living crisis, the State House has come under sharp criticism for spending an astonishing ₦5.9 billion on vehicles in 2024.
This revelation comes as millions of Nigerians grapple with inflation, high food prices, and declining living standards.
The Senate Committee on Special Duties expressed serious concerns on Tuesday when the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Temitope Fashedemi, appeared before the committee to defend the 2025 budget allocations.
Details of the Expenditure
Fashedemi disclosed that the State House spent ₦3.9 billion out of its ₦4 billion allocation on operational vehicles and fully utilized a ₦2 billion budget for replacing Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs). This disclosure prompted senators to demand a breakdown of the spending.
Lawmakers Demand Transparency
Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central, questioned the necessity and specifics of the vehicle purchases:
- “What kind of vehicles are we talking about, and how many were purchased? What is the model? And for the SUVs, how many were replaced with the ₦2 billion appropriation?”
Senator Aminu Adamu from Adamawa Central labeled the expenditure report as “deceptive” and criticized its lack of clarity:
- “Whoever prepared this table did it to deceive us. It is completely deceitful. You can’t release less than five percent and claim 100 percent utilization performance.”
Permanent Secretary’s Defense
Fashedemi, who only assumed office a month ago, defended the spending, stating that it adhered to the approved 2024 budget. He emphasized the State House’s obligation to implement the budget as passed by the National Assembly:
- “These items were listed in the approved budget of 2024, and it is mandatory for the State House to carry out the procurements.”
Despite his explanation, some lawmakers remained unconvinced, questioning whether the spending was justifiable given the nation’s economic challenges.
Committee Chairman Kaka Shehu stressed the importance of maintaining transparency and fostering a cooperative relationship between the State House and the legislature. He urged the State House to provide clear and detailed expenditure reports in the future to avoid similar controversies.
The disclosure of such lavish spending at a time of widespread hardship is likely to fuel public outrage. Critics argue that prioritizing luxury vehicles over urgent socio-economic issues undermines trust in governance.
This development adds to the growing scrutiny of government spending and raises questions about fiscal priorities as Nigerians continue to endure economic strain.
