Africa
Bauchi Govt Misplaces Priorities as People Suffer -By Yasir Shehu Adam
Without these basic services, crime and hardship will continue to rise. The people of Bauchi deserve a government that focuses on their welfare and works to develop the state in a way that benefits everyone — not just those in power.
A recent report by WikkiTimes has revealed that the Bauchi State Government spent almost ₦20 billion in just six months of 2025 on vehicles, consultancy services, and travels. This amount is more than the total capital spending on health and education combined for the same period.
According to the state’s budget performance report for the first and second quarters of 2025:
₦5.82 billion was spent on vehicles alone, which is already 62.2% of the entire ₦9.37 billion budgeted for the year.
Travels and transport cost ₦3.65 billion, representing 53.8% of the ₦6.79 billion annual allocation.
Consultancy and other professional services consumed ₦10.58 billion, which is 80.1% of the ₦13.21 billion set aside for the whole year.
The government has also spent ₦9.96 billion out of its ₦10 billion security vote, almost exhausting it in just half a year.
Meanwhile, key sectors that directly affect the lives of ordinary people are being neglected:
The Ministry of Education, with ₦23.78 billion for the year, spent only ₦2.78 billion — just 11.7% of its budget.
The Ministry of Higher Education used only ₦1.41 billion out of ₦13.85 billion — 10.2%.
The Ministry of Health did slightly better, spending ₦13.99 billion out of ₦47.15 billion, but that is still less than 30% of its budget.
This clearly shows a government that is prioritizing political and administrative expenses over the real needs of its people. Bauchi State does not need more luxury vehicles for politicians. What it needs is quality education, functional health care, job opportunities for young people, and good roads that truly serve communities.
Without these basic services, crime and hardship will continue to rise. The people of Bauchi deserve a government that focuses on their welfare and works to develop the state in a way that benefits everyone — not just those in power.
Yasir Shehu Adam (Dan Liman) Young journalist and writer from Bauchi.
