Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki is facing scrutiny over allegations of a ₦1.1 billion expenditure on furniture within the first three months of 2024.
According to a review of the state’s budget performance documents conducted by SaharaReporters, Edo State had allocated ₦2.2 billion for furniture purchases in the 2024 fiscal year, with ₦1.1 billion already spent by the end of the first quarter.
This substantial expenditure on furniture comes amid other notable budgetary allocations. The state also expended ₦203 million on refreshments and meals during the same period, against an annual budget of ₦739 million for this purpose.
In contrast, the state has not yet allocated any funds to the Ministry of Water Resources, despite an earmarked budget of ₦1.03 billion. Additionally, only ₦5 million was spent on the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, and no funds were used by the state’s erosion, flood, and watershed management agency.
The rationale behind the significant spending on furniture remains unclear. Attempts by SaharaReporters to contact Crusoe Osagie, the Senior Special Adviser on Media to Governor Obaseki, for clarification were unsuccessful as calls and messages via text and WhatsApp went unanswered.
