SAHARA REPORTERS
Kaduna Governor Uba Sani’s administration has allocated a whopping N3 billion for the renovation of offices in 2025, despite spending N2.5 billion on the same project in 2024.
A careful perusal of the 2025 approved budget reveals that the Kaduna State Facilities Management Agency set aside N3,023,305,045.83 for the renovation of government offices in 2025, while the same agency spent N2,598,520,229.24 on the same project from January to September 2024.
The budget was passed into law in December 2024. The total budget is N790,439,580,083, with a focus on rural development. The capital expenditure is N551,582,867,194, while recurrent expenditure amounts to N238,856,712,888.86.
The Commissioner for Planning and Budget, Alhaji Mukhtar Morovia, said that education received the largest allocation at 26%, followed by health at 16%, public infrastructure at 13%, and agriculture at 9.5%.
He explained that these sectoral allocations reflect the administration’s focus on human capital development and agriculture.
The governor’s criticism of his predecessor, Nasir El-Rufai, was largely fueled by questionable expenses. This scrutiny comes after the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) arrested Shizzer Joy Nasara Bada, the former Commissioner of Finance and Accountant General in Kaduna State, who served under El-Rufai’s administration, at the Lagos Airport in September 2024.
The ICPC’s move was reportedly part of a broader investigation into financial mismanagement within El-Rufai’s administration, with Bada’s arrest sparking speculation about the extent of corruption during his tenure.
Bada was reportedly travelling out of the country when ICPC operatives apprehended her at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos.
This arrest came a few months after the Kaduna State House of Assembly accused El-Rufai’s administration misappropriating N432 billion during his eight-year tenure, resulting in significant state debt.
This finding was revealed by the state Assembly’s ad hoc committee, tasked with investigating finances, loans, and contracts awarded during the El-Rufai administration, which submitted its findings to the House.
Henry Zacharia, the committee’s chairman, highlighted concerns that many loans obtained during El-Rufai’s tenure were allegedly misappropriated or obtained without following due process.
THIS STORY FIRST APPEARED IN SAHARA REPORTERS
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