The Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has allocated a staggering ₦10 billion in its 2024 supplementary budget for rent and furniture for Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, House of Representatives Speaker, Abbas Tajudeen, and their deputies, Barau Jibrin and Ben Kalu, according to a published investigative report.
The provision, classified as: “Renting and Furnishing of Presiding Officers of the National Assembly”, under code: 23010309, was part of ₦288 billion supplementary budget submitted by President Bola Tinubu in September. The 10th National Assembly passed the Budget within five days.
This expense comes at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with severe economic hardships.
This is the latest in a series of high-profile expenditures under FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, whose administration has previously committed vast sums to luxury projects, including a ₦21 billion mansion for Vice-President Kashim Shettima and ₦25 billion for judges’ housing.
The allocation comes as Nigerians face rising costs due to Government policies, such as the deregulation of the petroleum sector and naira devaluation.
Despite the 10th National Assembly’s record ₦344 billion budget for 2024, which includes funds for operational costs, the FCT is covering rent and furnishing expenses for these officers.
Public outcry has been growing over what many see as excessive spending by the Government, including luxurious perks for officials and a $100 million presidential jet.
Critics argue that these lavish expenditures contrast sharply with the Government’s calls for austerity and sacrifice. Dozens of Nigerians have reportedly died recently in stampedes while scrambling for food aid.
Since 2011, presiding officers of the National Assembly have been housed in rented accommodations due to stalled construction of official residences within Abuja’s Three-Arms Zone. The on-going projects, initiated during the Goodluck Jonathan administration, remain incomplete after over a decade.
The ₦10 billion allocation for rent and furniture remains vague. Key questions include: the nature of the rented accommodations, the type of furniture being purchased, and why these costs are being borne by the FCT rather than the National Assembly. This has also raised questions about why funds are being diverted for rent rather than completing the abandoned housing projects.
The report said attempts to seek clarification through Freedom of Information (FoI) requests were ignored by the FCT Ministry, which it said reflected a pattern of opacity under Wike’s administration. Spokespersons for the Senate and House of Representatives also declined to comment.
Observers have pointed out that the allocation highlights concerns about the Government’s priorities and insensitivity to the plight of ordinary Nigerians. Critics argue that such spending undermines public confidence in governance, calling for greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds.
