Borno State’s budget allocation has raised some eyebrows, with a whopping N1.407 billion earmarked for and spent on honorariums and sitting allowances in the first six months of 2024.
A report by SaharaReporters disclosed this against the backdrop of the recent flood that submerged Maiduguri Town and its environs.
To put this into perspective, a review of the state’s budget performance by showed the state only allocated N20 million for erosion and flood control during the same period, despite being severely affected by the collapse of the Alau Dam.
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It’s worth noting that sitting allowances typically go to lawmakers or are paid for committee meetings, while honorariums are voluntary payments that aren’t legally required. Essentially, they can be seen as gifts.
This disparity in funding has sparked concerns, especially considering the devastating impact of flooding in the region. Borno State has been grappling with the aftermath of the Alau Dam collapse.
Nigeria’s flood management challenges have been brought to the forefront by Borno State’s alarming spending priorities.
The disparity in spending is particularly concerning given the devastating impact of the recent floods, caused by the collapse of the Alau Dam, which have left over a million people displaced and at least 30 dead.
The floods have submerged large parts of Maiduguri, marking the worst flooding in 30 years. To make matters worse, experts have criticized the state government’s lack of preparedness and transparency in managing ecological funds.
Borno received N815.9 million in ecological funds between January and June 2024, broken down into monthly instalments ranging from N119.5 million to N154.9 million.
The money is broken down into N139.8 million in January, N154.9 million in February, N127.9 million in March, N119.5 million in April, N142.2 million in May, and N131.6 million in June.
With the National Emergency Management Agency reporting 200,000 people displaced by the recent flooding, it’s clear that more needs to be done to prevent such disasters. [SaharaReporters]
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