The Bauchi State government has spent a staggering N67.39 billion on controversial security votes over the past four years, according to findings by WikkiData,wikkitimes reports.
In comparison, the state allocated N47.79 billion for capital expenditures in education and healthcare combined during the same period.
A review of Bauchi’s Budget Performance reports from 2021 to the first quarter of 2024 by WikkiData revealed that spending on security votes significantly exceeded that of the vital sectors of health and education.
In 2021, the government spent N12.78 billion on security votes, while health and education received N5.62 billion and N11.49 billion, respectively.
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By 2022, security vote expenses had almost doubled to N21.77 billion, while healthcare spending rose slightly to N7.68 billion. However, education funding dropped to N5.88 billion compared to the previous year.
In 2023, security vote expenditure reached a new high of N23.47 billion, while health spending improved to N10.08 billion. The education sector saw modest growth to N6.38 billion compared to the previous year.
The first quarter of 2024 saw N9.37 billion spent on security votes, while healthcare and education received only N618.33 million and N54.07 million, respectively.
The analysis shows that security spending has steadily increased over the years, while investments in education and healthcare have fluctuated. This trend reflects the state’s growing focus on security, despite the absence of severe security challenges like those faced by Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, or the bandit-ravaged Northwestern states.
Observers suggest that Bauchi State needs to reassess its resource allocation, given the inadequate service delivery in its schools and health facilities, and the lack of major security threats compared to other states.
