NEWS
Terror-Hit Yobe: Gov Buni Spends N600m On Generators, N1.1bn On Stoves, Others
A recent review of Yobe State’s budget performance document has revealed controversial spending by Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration, raising questions about the state’s financial priorities.
The document, which covers expenditures from January to September 2024, outlines significant allocations for questionable projects amidst ongoing challenges such as terrorism, poverty, and infrastructure deficits.
N600 Million Spent on Generators
The budget document shows that N600 million was spent on the procurement of three generators: 1 x 500KVA Mikano Generator for the Government House in Damaturu, 1 x 800KVA Parkins Generator for the Maternal and Child Centre and 1 x 500KVA Caterpillar Generator for the Specialist Hospital.
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While the specific cost of each generator was not disclosed, the total expense for the three stood at N600 million.
N1.1 Billion on Stoves and Gas Distribution
In addition to the generator costs, the government reportedly spent N1.1 billion on stoves, gas cylinders, and cookers.
This initiative, ostensibly aimed at reducing deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, has sparked outrage.
N50 Million for “Re-Surveying” Game Reserves
The budget document also allocated N50 million for the re-surveying of game reserves in Kumadugu Gana, Kalallawa, Gumsi, and other areas.
Additional Controversial Allocations
Other expenditures in the budget include: N5 million for “minor repairs” at the Yobe State Headquarters Office Complex, a sum many consider inflated.
N400 million for the “fixation and stabilization of 2-hectare degraded dune areas,” a project with vague objectives.
N600 million for the installation of 4,500 units of streetlights, with critics questioning the transparency of the procurement process.
Insecurity and Humanitarian Crises
These expenditures come against the backdrop of persistent insecurity in Yobe State.
Recall that in September 2024, terrorists killed over 100 residents of Mafa village, riding over 50 motorcycles in a brutal attack.
The victims were buried in Babangida, the headquarters of Tarmuwa Local Government. This attack is one of many incidents that have left thousands of people dead and properties worth millions destroyed over the years.
Additionally, thousands of residents remain displaced, living in dire conditions without adequate government support.
Infrastructure in several areas remains in ruins, while many schools and healthcare centers are either nonfunctional or under-equipped.
In a bid to support low-income workers, Mexico has announced plans to raise its minimum wage by 12% starting January 2025.
The announcement was made Wednesday by Labor Minister Marath Bolaños during President Claudia Sheinbaum’s daily press conference, underscoring the government’s commitment to a “humanist economy” focused on reducing inequality.
The increase will see the daily minimum wage rise from 249 pesos ($12.23) to 278.80 pesos nationwide, while workers in northern border regions will earn approximately 420 pesos per day due to higher regional costs.
This adjustment reflects an agreement between labor and business sectors and builds on significant wage hikes in recent years.
“We continue on the path to rebuild the minimum wage and the purchasing power of Mexican men and women,” Bolaños said, highlighting that the wage has more than doubled—up 135%—since 2018 under successive leftist governments.
President Sheinbaum, who assumed office in October, has committed to maintaining annual wage increases of around 12% throughout her term.
Responding to concerns that the hike could stoke inflation, she dismissed such fears as unfounded.
“They said this would increase inflation. That’s false,” Sheinbaum said, pointing to central bank data indicating the hike will not have significant inflationary effects.
The administration’s long-term goal is to ensure the minimum wage covers 2.5 “basic food baskets,” a measure of essential groceries for a family of 3.7 people, by the end of Sheinbaum’s term.
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to allocate ₦100 million to Nigeria’s Tobacco Control Fund, enhancing its capacity to enforce the National Tobacco Control Act.
During Wednesday’s plenary, Bassey Akiba, representing Calabar Municipal/Odukpani Federal Constituency, emphasised the need for increased funding.
He highlighted that the current allocation of ₦10 million in the 2024 budget falls short of what is required to combat tobacco-related health issues effectively.
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“Tobacco control is crucial due to its impact on preventable deaths, including cancer,” Akiba stated. He warned that inadequate funding could worsen health risks, noting tobacco consumption’s link to cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and cancer.
The House urged the Federal Ministry of Health to provide a detailed report on the Tobacco Control Fund, including its balance, funding sources, and previous expenditures.
Speaker Tajudeen Abbas backed the motion, stressing the importance of sustainable funding to reduce dependence on international donors.
The House resolved to advocate for a ₦100 million allocation in the 2025 budget to bolster the fund’s effectiveness.
At the eighth Nigeria Family Planning Conference held in Abuja, medical experts stressed the urgent need to address high fertility rates and low family planning uptake to improve maternal and child health outcomes.
The event, themed “Sustaining Commitments for Family Planning within the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative,” was organised by the Association for the Advancement of Family Planning (AAFP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
Dr Ejike Oji, Chairman of the AAFP Management Committee, underscored the transformative potential of family planning as a tool for sustainable development. He highlighted its multifaceted benefits, including saving lives, promoting gender equity, and fostering economic growth. According to Oji, “$1 invested in contraceptive services saves $3 in maternal and newborn health costs by reducing unintended pregnancies.”
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Despite some progress, Nigeria’s Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) remains at 15 per cent, with an unmet need of 21 per cent. Dr Oji called for increased collaboration and innovation to meet the FP2030 targets.
Funmilola OlaOlorun, Co-Principal Investigator at Performance Monitoring for Action/Nigeria, emphasised the need for strict adherence to the national family planning blueprint to achieve a two per cent annual CPR increase. “We cannot do business as usual,” she stated, urging for more funding, dedication, and resource mobilisation.
Samuel Oyeniyi, Director at the Reproductive Health Department, acknowledged the slow but steady progress towards FP2030. He emphasised the importance of integrating family planning into broader health initiatives to bridge existing gaps.
The conference highlighted Nigeria’s renewed commitment, including a $4 million government investment in family planning and the integration of family planning services into the healthcare provision fund, ensuring access for marginalised groups.
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