Corruption, Fraud, Impunity Rock Kaduna State House of Assembly, Over N5 Billion Budget For Legislators

'Referring the allegations to the EFCC and ICPC for investigation and prosecution would improve public trust in the ability of the leadership of the kaduna state Assembly to ensure accountability'........

The Kaduna State House of Assembly under the leadership of Hon. Yusuf Dahiru Liman, allegedly Budgets N5.3Billion For the kaduna Lawmakers’ Vehicles, Residences which is more than the Constituency Projects.

Also, the sum of N1.5 billion was allegedly budgeted for the construction of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker’s residences.

Media review of the Kaduna 2025 approved budget has shown that the State House of Assembly plans to spend more on constructing the Speaker’s and Deputy Speaker’s residences and on the purchase of 36 vehicles for lawmakers than what is earmarked for constituency projects.

According to the budget document, a sum of N3.8 billion is budgeted for the purchase of 36 Toyota Camry XLE Hybrid vehicles in the 2025 approved budget. Already, N1.5 billion was spent on the same purpose between January and September 2024.

Another sum of N1.5 billion was budgeted for the construction of the Speaker/Deputy Speaker’s residences.

This means that both the 36 XLE vehicles (N3.8 billion) and the construction of the Speaker/Deputy Speaker’s residences (N1.5 billion) are planned to gulp N5.3 billion.

Further review shows that only N4 billion was budgeted for "contingency funds for legislative oversight (contingency funds)."

This indicates that the state plans to spend more on lawmakers’ luxury than on constituency projects, which would benefit residents across the state.

Aside from the expenditure on lawmakers’ personal luxury, a sum of N1.5 billion was budgeted for the renovation and remodelling of the Lugard Hall complex, with N499 million already spent on the same project between January and September 2024.

This development comes amid concerns over developmental challenges facing Kaduna State and Nigeria at large.

According to data provided by the National Bureau of Statistics, 29% of school-aged children in Kaduna State are deprived of access to education.

The data also shows that 73% of households in the state are deprived of access to sanitary facilities. It further states that 64% of households are deprived of access to clean drinking water.

The state budgeted N40 million to rehabilitate ten boreholes, meaning an average of N4 million per borehole. The N3.8 billion earmarked for XLE vehicles for lawmakers could rehabilitate 950 boreholes, helping the state tackle the challenge of unclean water and ease sanitation problems.

The state also budgeted N40.5 million for the construction of public toilets. This would mean that the N3.8 billion for lawmakers’ vehicles could construct 940 toilets.

According to a kaduna cleric, “The allegations against the kaduna lawmakers which includes Corruption, fraud and Impunity make a mockery of lawmaking and legislative powers under section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended].

"These allegations of quid pro quo for lawmaking have seriously undermined the people of Kaduna democratic rights".

"These allegations have exposed how kaduna lawmakers are abusing their entrusted positions to deny the people of Kaduna their democratic rights".

Referring the allegations to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for investigation and prosecution would improve public trust in the ability of the leadership of the kaduna state Assembly to ensure accountability in the exercise of lawmakers’ constitutional and legislative functions.

By exercising strong and effective leadership in this matter, the kaduna state house of Assembly leadership can show the good citizens that the legislative body is a proper and accountable watchdog that represents and protects the public interest, and is able to hold itself to account in cases of corruption including bribery.

The allegations also amount to fundamental breaches of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s anticorruption legislation and international obligations including under the UN Convention against Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.

Majority of the citizens concerned about the persistent allegations of corruption in the kaduna state Assembly and the prevailing culture of impunity of perpetrators.

A petitions and prosecution of suspected perpetrators would improve transparency and accountability in the Assembly, and build trust in democratic institutions.

Section 15(5) of the Nigerian Constitution requires public institutions including the National Assembly to abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power.