Wicked Leaders: Kogi Channels Nearly N1bn Into Govt Quarters While Residents Battle Hunger And Bad Roads

By Esther Tomo

In a year when Kogi State citizens continue to battle rising hardship, shrinking job opportunities, and economic pressure that tighten by the day, the state’s own 2023 budget figures reveal a troubling contradiction in government spending priorities.

Official records show that for 2023, the Kogi State Ministry of Works and Housing approved N80,700,272.00 for the Maintenance of Government Quarters Offices Across the State. This allocation was meant for routine upkeep, repairs, and general facility maintenance commonly associated with government offices and quarters.

But by the end of the second quarter, the spending on this same project had climbed to an astonishing N959,784,396.62 within just the first six months of the year. More confusing is the entry showing zero recorded spending for Q2, yet the year to date figure still stands at nearly one billion naira.

This represents a 1189.30 percent performance against the original budget, meaning the state spent more than eleven times the amount approved for the entire year. The figures also show a negative balance of N879,084,124.62, indicating that the actual spending far exceeded what was officially allocated, without any publicly accessible breakdown explaining why.

There is no information provided to show what type of maintenance could justify such a dramatic increase from N80 million to almost a billion naira within six months. No list of repairs, no details of activities, and no documentation indicating what was renovated or improved. The numbers stand without context, leaving significant unanswered questions.

Meanwhile, the everyday reality for many residents in Kogi State remains challenging. Citizens continue to speak of economic strain, limited job opportunities, and rising living costs. Families are adjusting to tighter budgets, young people are searching for work, and traders report declining sales as purchasing power drops.

Across various communities, infrastructure issues remain a concern. Roads in need of attention have not seen noticeable improvements, affecting ease of movement, transportation costs, and business activities. These ongoing challenges sharply contrast with the heavy spending directed at government quarters and offices.

The gap between the approved budget and the actual expenditure raises obvious concerns. Many are left asking what specific maintenance activity required nearly a billion Naira within half a year.

With a 1189 percent overshoot and a negative balance of over N879 million, the project continues to raise questions about how public funds are being allocated and whether those allocations reflect the actual needs of the people.