In a time of widespread economic hardship, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike, has allocated ₦10 billion for rent and furniture for Senate President Godswill Akpabio, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas, and two other presiding officers. This expenditure, revealed in the FCT’s supplementary budget, has sparked outrage due to its lack of transparency and perceived insensitivity to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.
Lavish Spending Amid Economic Struggles
The allocations come as Nigerians grapple with soaring inflation and economic challenges exacerbated by the deregulation of the petroleum downstream sector and naira devaluation. Recent weeks have seen tragic stampedes as desperate citizens sought food aid. Critics argue that while the government urges austerity, it continues extravagant spending, including costly vehicles for lawmakers and other luxuries.
Background of the Allocation
In a supplementary budget proposal dated September 11, Wike requested ₦288 billion for additional projects in the FCT, including ₦10 billion for the presiding officers’ accommodations. Despite existing uncompleted housing projects for these officials, the funds were allocated for renting properties and furnishing them.
The National Assembly’s budget, which reached a record ₦344 billion for 2024, already includes provisions for lawmakers’ needs. However, the FCT is now covering costs that many believe should fall within the legislature’s purview.
Questions of Accountability and Transparency
The ₦10 billion allocation has raised several unanswered questions:
- Why is the FCT funding rent and furniture for National Assembly presiding officers despite their substantial budget?
- Why hasn’t the government completed the long-abandoned housing project for these officials, located within the Three-Arms Zone?
- What specific accommodations and furnishings justify this enormous expenditure?
Efforts to obtain answers have been met with silence. The FCT ministry ignored a Freedom of Information (FOI) request for clarification, and spokespersons for the Senate and House of Representatives declined to comment.
Comparison with Other Expenditures
To put this allocation in perspective:
- The federal government plans to spend ₦11.5 billion on constructing 20,000 housing units under the Renewed Hope Agenda, a project that would serve thousands of households.
- The entire national housing program for 2025 has a budget of ₦5.3 billion, nearly half of the ₦10 billion allocated to four individuals.
- House lawmakers recently pooled ₦704 million from their salaries to support vulnerable Nigerians—just 7.4% of the amount earmarked for rent and furniture for the presiding officers.
Public Outrage
The lavish allocation has drawn criticism from Nigerians and civil society, who view it as emblematic of the government’s insensitivity and lack of accountability. While citizens endure economic hardships, such extravagant expenditures further erode public trust.
This situation highlights the need for greater transparency in public spending and prioritization of projects that directly benefit the populace, especially during a period of national economic distress.
