By Aminu Imam, with agency report
It has been revealed that State governors and local government chairmen in the 36 States of the Federation collect a whopping sum of N375 billion annually in the name of security votes, an act not provided for in the Nigerian Constitution or any known law in the country.
According to reported figures, this amount excludes those collected annually by the President, Vice-President, the leadership of the National and States’ House of Assemblies, Ministers and other top government officials.
According to the reported figures, across the country revealed the following details: Taraba State receives N200m monthly (N2.4bn annually), Bauchi State: N1.417bn monthly (N17bn p.a.), Kaduna State: N400m monthly (N175m Security vote + N225m for the SSG’s office) i.e N4.8bn annually (N2.1bn + N2.7bn); Katsina State: N17.583m monthly (N211m p.a.), Zamfara State: N600M monthly (N7.2bn p.a.), and Benue State: N3.092bn allocation to personnel and overhead costs monthly, which cover security vote, among others (total N37.1bn p.a).
Other states include Lagos State: N1.429bn monthly [N1.297bn (Public order and safety) + N132.5m (Social Protection)] (N17.149bn p.a. [N15.559bn + N1.59bn]); Ondo State: N600m monthly (N7.2B p.a.) Osun State: N400m Monthly (N4.8B p.a.), Ogun State: N80-N100m monthly (N960m-N1.2bn p.a.); Ekiti State: N100m monthly (N1.2B p.a.), Oyo State: N1bn monthly (N120bn p.a.); Borno State: N806.25m monthly (N9.675 p.a.); Yobe State: N316.667m monthly (N3.8bn p.a.).
In the same vein Imo State governor receives N333.333m monthly (N4bn p.a.), Enugu State: N600m monthly (N7.2B p.a.); Anambra State: N850m monthly (N10B p.a.); Abia State: N700m monthly (N8.4bn p.a.); Cross-River State: N500m monthly (N6B p.a.); Rivers State: N1.5B monthly (N18bn p.a.); Akwa Ibom State: N1.8bn monthly (N21.6bn p.a.); Edo State: N900m monthly (N10.8bn p.a.) and Delta State: N2bn monthly (N24B p.a.), respectively.
Others are, Niger State: N1.308bn monthly (N15.7bn p.a.); Plateau State: N216.667m monthly (N2.6bn p.a.); Kogi State: N400m monthly (N4.8bn p.a.); Nasarawa State: N100m monthly (N1.2bn p.a.). However, the data for Kwara, Ebonyi and Kano States could not be obtained as at press time.
Although there is no scientific data on which these figures can be predicated and validated, it is nonetheless indicative and revelatory that the amount collected as security votes by those entitled is massive.
States such as Rivers, Delta, Lagos, Kaduna, Oyo and Kano that face constant security threats receive some of the largest security vote funds.
The governors are not alone; Chairmen of local government areas, it was gathered, collect up to N50 million each, amounting to N38 billion annually.
The security funds, often provided in cash to the government officials are not subject to legislative oversight or independent audit, and therefore are disbursed at the discretion of the Executive.
Although, these officials often spend some of the funds on security, they are also alleged to be channeling them into political activities or, according to a 2018 report by Transparency International (TI), embezzle them outright. The result is that security votes have become conduit pipes for corruption.
Security analysts estimate that over sixty billion dollars ($60bn) have so far been wasted by Nigeria in the name of security vote to the president, Governors and Local Government Chairmen.
Regrettably, despite the huge sums of money they collect from the public treasury, State governors have been incapable of stopping the unending wanton killings, kidnappings and other criminal activities currently going on in their States and the country’s security challenge has continued to grow with worrisome sophistication and gravity.
Transparency International, in a recent report, alleged that the use of security votes has expanded in both scope and scale under the present Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, with its Director for Defence and Security, Katherine Dixon, saying, “the security vote is one of the most durable forms of corruption operating in Nigeria today.”
According to the anti-corruption watchdog’s report, the sum total of Nigeria’s various security votes dwarfs the international security assistance it receives, and is comparable to budgeted spending on national defence and security institutions.
However, defending the action of State governors when he paid a sympathy visit to his Kebbi State counterpart, Atiku Bagudu in Birnin Kebbi, Kaduna State governor, Nasir Ahmed el-Rufa’i, at the weekend, said although governors receive security votes, there wasn’t much they could do in the face of rising insecurity in the country.
