Rita Odafe
Snapshot of Gov Godwin Obaseki
Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State reportedly spent ₦1.1 billion on furniture within the first quarter of 2024.
Records from the Edo State budget performance reports reviewed by SaharaReporters indicate that the state had earmarked ₦2.2 billion for chair procurement in 2024, with half of the budget already utilized in the initial three months.
Despite the furniture expenses, the state also allocated ₦203 million for refreshments and meals during the same period, a fraction of the ₦739 million budgeted for the entire year.
Surprisingly, no expenditure was recorded for the Ministry of Water Resources, although ₦1.030 billion had been budgeted for it. Similarly, only ₦5 million was spent on the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability.
Furthermore, no funds were utilized for the erosion, flood, and watershed management agency during the first quarter of the year.
The rationale behind the substantial allocation of ₦1.1 billion solely for furniture remains unclear.
Despite attempts to contact Governor Obaseki’s Senior Special Adviser on Media, Crusoe Osagie, there has been no response to calls or messages via text and WhatsApp.
