As Nigeria continues to battle a ballooning debt profile, the 36 state governors in the country have reportedly spent N1.71tn on recurrent expenditures, including allowances, rechargeable fans, foreign trips, office stationery, and aircraft maintenance in the first nine months of 2023.
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in a letter dated November 25, 2023, and signed by SERAP deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, accused the state governors of mismanaging or diverting funds linked to the World Bank’s investments in many of the country’s 36 states to fund unnecessary travels, buy exotic and bulletproof cars and generally fund the lavish lifestyles of politicians.
For example, SERAP accused the Abia State government of spending the sum of N397,520,734.84 on ‘feeding and welfare’ and N223,389,889.84 on ‘refreshments and meals’.
