In the first three months of 2024, 30 Nigerian state governments have collectively spent ₦986.64 billion on recurrent expenditures. This spending includes costs for refreshments, sitting allowances, travel, and utilities, as revealed by budget implementation reports obtained from Open Nigerian States, supported by BudgIT. Data from Benue, Imo, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto, and Yobe States were not available for analysis.
The breakdown of expenditures shows significant amounts allocated to various categories: ₦5.1 billion on refreshments, ₦4.67 billion on sitting allowances, ₦34.63 billion on travel expenses, and ₦5.64 billion on utilities. Additionally, ₦405.77 billion was spent on salaries for state workers. Specific expenditures varied across states, with Lagos spending the highest at ₦189.62 billion and other states like Abia, Adamawa, and Akwa Ibom also incurring substantial costs.
Notable figures include Abia State’s ₦10.92 billion, Adamawa’s ₦23.7 billion, and Akwa Ibom’s ₦46.85 billion on recurrent expenditures. Smaller yet significant amounts were spent by states like Anambra, Bauchi, and Bayelsa, highlighting the extensive recurrent spending across the federation. The data underscores the financial commitments of state governments towards operational costs amid economic challenges.