Outrage as Bauchi spends ₦1.6bn on official vehicles amid zero capital funding for schools

A first-quarter 2026 budget review of Bauchi State reveals that the government spent ₦1.6 billion on vehicles for public officials while several tertiary institutions and the water sector received little to no capital funding.

A first-quarter 2026 budget performance report from Bauchi State has revealed that the state government spent ₦1.6 billion on vehicle purchases between January and March, even as critical social sectors faced severe underfunding. The expenditure is part of a larger ₦5.1 billion allocation designated for the procurement of “130 assorted vehicles for Commissioners and public office holders” in the state’s 2026 budget. While the ₦1.6 billion was promptly disbursed for the benefit of political office holders and senior government functionaries, capital execution for essential infrastructure remained comparatively low, with the Ministry of Water Resources recording only ₦733 million in the same period.

The disparity in spending is most evident in the education sector, where several tertiary institutions recorded zero naira in capital budget releases for the first three months of the year. According to the document, institutions such as the “Saadu Zungur State University” did not receive any capital allocation within the period under review. This trend of non-funding extended to the Aminu Saleh College of Education, Adamu Tafawa Balewa College of Education, Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, College of Education DASS, and the College of Agriculture, Bauchi, all of which reportedly received no actual release for capital projects.

The revelation of these spending patterns has sparked renewed concerns regarding the state’s fiscal priorities and the equitable distribution of resources. Critics point to the stark contrast between the swift funding for official luxury and the stagnation of development in educational and technical institutions. As the document highlights a preference for administrative comfort over critical public services, stakeholders are calling for a more transparent and balanced implementation of the budget to address the pressing needs of the state’s infrastructure and human capital development.

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