In a revelation sparking outrage, Premium Times Newspaper has unveiled that amidst Nigeria’s deepening economic crisis, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, allocated a staggering N10 billion for rent and furniture allowances to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Abbas Tajudeen, and their deputies, Barau Jibrin and Ben Kalu. This expenditure is part of the N288 billion supplementary budget transmitted to the National Assembly by President Bola Tinubu in September and hastily approved within five days.
The budget line, titled “Renting and Furnishing of Presiding Officers of the National Assembly,” bears the classification code 23010309. It highlights the prioritization of luxury allowances for four presiding officers of the legislature—positions held by the Senate President, the Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Deputy Speaker.
This isn’t the first time Wike’s largesse has made headlines. Over the past 15 months, his ministry has funded opulent housing projects for government officials, including a N21 billion residential mansion for Vice President Kashim Shettima and a N25 billion allocation for housing 40 judges. The latest allocation appears to cement Wike’s strategy of extending “generosity” across Nigeria’s three arms of government—the executive, judiciary, and legislature—despite glaring economic hardships gripping the nation.
Critics have labeled these expenditures as tone-deaf and insensitive, given the current socio-economic realities in Nigeria. The country is reeling under the pressure of inflation, a depreciating naira, and widespread poverty following the government’s controversial policies on fuel subsidy removal and currency devaluation. In the past three weeks alone, stampedes at food distribution centers have claimed dozens of lives, painting a grim picture of the desperation among citizens.
Experts argue that the prioritization of such opulent allowances is a slap in the face of struggling Nigerians. A civil society advocate, who chose to remain anonymous, commented, “While millions of Nigerians are grappling with hunger and unemployment, it is appalling that our leaders continue to live in unchecked luxury. This N10 billion allocation for rent and furniture underscores a glaring disconnect between the leadership and the people they serve.”
The speed at which the supplementary budget was passed has also raised eyebrows, with observers questioning the scrutiny given to its contents. Many believe this rush reflects the self-serving nature of those in power. “Five days to approve such an allocation? It’s an insult to the democratic process,” a political analyst noted.
Wike’s decisions are facing mounting backlash from Nigerians, who are demanding accountability and a redirection of public funds toward projects that address the country’s pressing needs, such as infrastructure, healthcare, and social welfare.
The contrast between the government’s extravagant spending and the dire conditions of ordinary Nigerians has reignited debates about governance, priorities, and leadership in the country. As public discontent grows, the question remains: will those in power heed the cries of the people, or will such ostentatious allocations continue unchecked?
This exposé is a stark reminder of the widening gap between the Nigerian government and the citizens it claims to serve.
PIONEER NEWS 