Legislators/Gavel
Lawmakers in eight states allocate N31.6bn for houses, cars, furniture as healthcare, education funding suffer
Legislators across eight Nigerian states have earmarked approximately N31.6 billion for their personal comfort—including houses, cars, furniture and allowances—while funding for healthcare, education and other essential sectors faces significant cuts, a Daily Sun analysis of State Houses of Assembly budgets has revealed.
The investigation spanning Borno, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Oyo and Osun states exposes what critics describe as misplaced priorities amid pressing developmental needs.
In Lagos State, the 40-member House of Assembly allocated N6.2 billion for houses in Abuja, with each residence costing approximately N155 million.
This substantial sum excludes additional billions budgeted for travel expenses, vehicles, sitting allowances and other expenditures.
In Borno State, where years of insecurity have kept countless children out of school, the state’s 28 legislators allocated N4.55 billion for their refreshments, honorarium and welfare in 2026. By contrast, primary school libraries across the entire state will receive just N95 million for books—an amount 48 times less than what lawmakers would receive.
Ekiti State’s 26 legislators earmarked N1.2 billion to purchase cars and furniture, an amount 17 times the entire N68 million allocation for capital projects in primary healthcare across the state.
Ondo State’s 26 legislators will spend N2.1 billion on 27 Sports Utility Vehicles in 2026, with the single purchase alone being four times more than the state’s N515 million budget for educational equipment.
Meanwhile, the state has allocated only N69 million for drugs for its hospitals and primary healthcare centres.
Akwa Ibom lawmakers earmarked N1.2 billion for four buses and 14 cars—an amount 10 times more than what the state’s 150 health centres will receive for equipment. An additional N300 million has been budgeted for “security gadgets” for the 26 legislators, which is five times more than the budget for vaccine cold-chain equipment in a state where thousands of children under five years old die annually.
In Delta, the 29 legislators have allocated N8.216 billion for expenses including N3.59 billion for travel, N2.1 billion for “welfare,” N1.6 billion for electricity, N706 million for training, and N220 million for newspapers.
This total sum exceeds by more than 10 times the budget of either the Urban Water Corporation or the Rural Water Sanitation and Supply Agency.
Oyo State’s 32 legislators will spend N6.5 billion on vehicles, fuel, and miscellaneous items, including N2.5 billion on generator fuel, N1.6 billion on cars, N2 billion for “public enlightenment,” and N413 million on welfare.
This amount exceeds twice what the state will spend building primary health centres for its eight million residents.
Twenty-six Osun State legislators will spend N1.3 billion on international travel (N700 million) and sitting allowances (N600 million)—seven times more than the State Ministry of Health will spend on drugs and medical supplies (N180 million) for its residents.
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