Juliet Jacob Ochenje
Amidst devastating poverty and insecurity in the State, Borno’s Governor, Babagana Zulum, spent the sum N3 billion naira to manage his office, and another N2.3 billion on trips and welfare in three months.
This is according to the state’s budget performance record titled, ‘Borno State Government Budget Performance Report Quarter Q3 2023.”
Zulum manages a state ravaged by terrorists, where residents in some parts are still displaced from their homes and livelihoods despite efforts by government and international organisations to stem the humanitarian crisis.
It also grapples with acute malnutrition, as the insurgency and insecurity affects farming and fishing in parts of the state.
Regardless of the situation of the state, the governor, according to the report cited by Sahara Reporters, spent N252 million on foodstuffs, N143 million on refreshments and N1.8 billion on welfare packages, according to the report which covers July to September, 2023.
The government further recorded that it spent N401 million on the office of the Deputy Governor in three months, while it spent only N99,103,728.44 on the State Emergency Management Agency.
