EXCLUSIVE: Kogi Governor, Bello Budgets N1.5billion For Refreshments, N600million To Maintain Deputy Governor’s Office Amid Non-payment Of Workers’ Salaries

The Kogi State Government led by Governor Yahaya Bello has earmarked humongous sums for refreshments, furnishing of offices and others in its 2022 budget, despite its inability to pay the salaries of workers for several months.

SaharaReporters obtained the state budget for 2022 presented to the State House of Assembly, where the government is set to spend more than N1.5billion on refreshments and more than N600million for the furnishing of the Office of the Deputy Governor, Edward Onoja.

This is as civil servants in Kogi State are begging to feed their families, due to non-payment of their monthly emoluments.

According to the budget proposal, Bello will also be spending N50million on donations and redemption of pledges.

The governor also budgeted N500million as “expenses incidental to governor’s tour.”

Last year, N400million was set aside for a similar purpose.

Meanwhile, the furnishing of the Office of the Deputy Governor in 2022 will gulp over N600million from the state budget as seen below;