The administration of Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has come under scrutiny following revelations that it has failed to utilize any portion of its N175 million budget for local medical expenses nine months into the 2024 fiscal year. While funds designated for the healthcare of ordinary citizens remain untouched, the state’s financial records indicate that significant public resources have been directed toward administrative welfare and personal comfort.
According to the state’s third-quarter expenditure reports, the government has already expended N517,924,418.67 on refreshments and meals, alongside N223,882,054.97 allocated to welfare packages. These figures suggest a disparity in the government’s spending priorities, as critical local medical services continue to suffer from a total lack of financial implementation.
The Katsina State budget for the current year stands at over N897.8 billion, with total revenues recorded at approximately N424.8 billion by the end of September. Although the administration has maintained a 47.3 percent revenue performance, the actual distribution of funds paints a picture of fiscal imbalance. While the local medical expense budget remains at a 0.0 percent utilization rate, the government has been aggressive in other areas. Notably, the “Annual Budget Expenses and Administration” line has seen a 96.3 percent depletion, with N260 million spent out of a N270 million allocation.
The contrast becomes even more stark when examining external versus internal health commitments. While local medical support remains in a state of paralysis, international medical expenses have seen a disbursement of N179,484,718 out of a N500 million budget. Meanwhile, the state’s debt servicing obligations remain a priority, with public debt charges—encompassing foreign and domestic principal and interest—consuming over N24.2 billion during the same nine-month period.
The management of Government House finances further underscores the administration’s spending patterns. While the Governor’s office saw a revenue collection of only N52.4 million against a projection of over N13.5 billion, the broader Government House establishment recorded actual expenditures of N12.8 billion during the first three quarters. Interestingly, some infrastructure projects, such as the repairs and renovation of the Governor’s Lodge, have recorded zero spending, while routine maintenance of Government House facilities has only seen about 3.2 percent of the N500 million allocated budget utilized.
As the fiscal year enters its final quarter, the continued dormancy of the local medical budget has raised concerns regarding the government’s commitment to addressing the immediate health needs of the Katsina populace, even as it maintains substantial expenditure on administrative overheads and debt obligations.
Source: NaijaProbe