‘Budget of Thieves’: Bayelsa Govt Allocates Over N100 Million to Burials, Marriages, and Frivolities Amid Soaring Poverty

PAUL UTEBOR

While the people of Bayelsa State groan under the crushing weight of unemployment and poverty, a fresh look into the state’s 2025 budget has unveiled a slew of eyebrow-raising allocations that paint a disturbing picture of misplaced priorities. The so-called “Budget of Assured Prosperity” appears to have turned a blind eye to the real needs of the people—allocating jaw-dropping sums to activities like burials, weddings, and welfare treats.

A forensic review of the 2025 fiscal plan shows that, amid widespread economic hardship, the state’s Ministry of Transportation set aside ₦1 million each for burial logistics and special days/celebrations, and another ₦500,000 each for conflict resolution and marriage ceremony celebrations—figures that raise more than a few red flags.

The State Budget Office followed suit with similar allocations: ₦1 million apiece for burials and marriage support, ₦1.5 million for refreshment and meals, and a whopping ₦5 million for welfare packages. These numbers suggest that when it comes to spending, the state isn’t afraid to loosen its purse strings—even if the spending has little to do with improving the lives of its citizens.

The Ministry of Trade, Investment, and Industry joined the gravy train, earmarking ₦10 million for welfare, ₦5 million for celebrations, and ₦2 million each for burials, conflict resolution, and marriage support. A mouthwatering ₦20 million was set aside for “nutrition activities,” though what exactly that entails remains unclear.

Not to be left out, the State Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency penciled in ₦20 million for welfare packages, ₦5 million for special celebrations, ₦7 million for marriage support, and ₦500,000 for VIP hosting.

The State International Institute of Tourism and Hospitality also dipped into the celebration kitty, allocating ₦1 million each for Christmas decorations, marriage support, and verification exercises, while ₦5 million was set aside for burial logistics and another ₦3 million for special days.

Even the Tourism Development and Hotel Licensing Agency got in on the act, with ₦5.5 million for special days, ₦750,000 for burials, and ₦1.625 million for welfare.

This extravagance is reflected in the revised budget figures: In December 2024, Governor Douye Diri signed into law the state’s 2025 budget, initially presented at ₦689.4 billion but padded with an additional ₦10.1 billion by the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, bringing the final sum to ₦699.7 billion.

Despite the budget’s optimistic title, “Budget of Assured Prosperity,” the figures tell a different story—one where government spending continues to dance to the tune of comfort and ceremony, while the average Bayelsan struggles to afford basic necessities.