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The Bauchi State House of Assembly has come under scrutiny following the release of its 2025 budget, which reveals eye-popping allocations for office furniture, generators, and allowances, even as the state grapples with severe developmental challenges.

According to the budget breakdown sighted in Bauchi’s budget document by SolaceBase, the Assembly plans to spend N20 million on ten office chairs and ten tables for the House of Assembly Commission.

That equates to N2 million per chair-table set, raising questions about fiscal prudence and priorities.

The document further reveals that the Assembly Commission will also procure a Mikano generator for N30 million, while two additional Mikano generators earmarked for the House of Assembly itself will cost a staggering N184 million. Combined, the state plans to spend N214 million on three generators.

The spending spree continues with a proposed N132.2 million for the purchase of 32 chairs and 32 tables to be used in the offices of Honorable members. This translates to more than N2 million per furniture set on average.

In addition to these office comforts, the state budget allocates N1.367 billion for “Refreshments and Meals (Statewide)” and a further N3.191 billion for “Honorarium and Sitting Allowances (Statewide).” The latter includes allowances for meetings, attendance, and other compensations for government officials, but the scale of the allocation—over N3 billion—has raised eyebrows among civil society groups and budget analysts.

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These allocations come at a time when Bauchi State is facing deeply rooted developmental challenges. Data published by the National Bureau of Statistics in its Multidimensional Poverty Index, shows that 54% of children in the state are out of school, a statistic that underscores a critical education crisis. Furthermore, 65% of households lack access to sanitary facilities, and 48% are without access to clean drinking water, painting a grim picture of public health and sanitation.

Despite these pressing needs, the budget earmarks N2.167 billion for the “Rehabilitation of Water Facilities” and N652 million for “Rehabilitation/Repairs of Electricity.” However, there are fears that this may be inadequate relative to the scope of the issues, as revealed by data and the vast sums being channeled into administrative luxuries.

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The juxtaposition between extravagant legislative spending and widespread developmental shortfalls has ignited a public debate over the government’s commitment to tackling poverty and improving living conditions in the state.

Over time, there have been arguments that the rate of out-of-school children in Bauchi and the number of households lacking access to clean drinking water are alarming, promoting an urgent need for government intervention.

There are also calls for more transparency and accountability in the budgeting process, and for greater emphasis to be placed on developmental needs rather than administrative comfort.

With this 2025 fiscal year, there are hopes that there will be a reallocation of funds toward education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure—sectors that could transform lives in one of Nigeria’s most underdeveloped states.

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Earlier, a review of Bauchi State’s 2025 first-quarter budget performance by SolaceBase revealed spending patterns that have sparked concerns over government priorities amid ongoing socio-economic challenges. Despite rising debt levels and pressing development needs, the state government spent a total of N954 million on foodstuffs and catering materials within just three months.

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During the same period, the state borrowed N26.1 billion to finance its activities—N17.1 billion from domestic sources and N9 billion from international lenders. These loans have contributed to the state’s growing debt burden, with the Debt Management Office (DMO) ranking Bauchi as the fifth most indebted state in Nigeria in terms of domestic debt, which currently stands at N143 billion.