The Kwara State Government has come under fire for allocating a whopping N1.5 billion for the purchase of luxurious cars and travel expenses for the governor, his aides and the state lawmakers in the 2024 budget.
According to the approved appropriation bill, the State Government House has set aside N400 million for local travel and transport and another N450 million for international travel and transport.
In addition, the state legislature has earmarked N400 million for the acquisition of prado jeeps for the speaker and the deputy speaker and N300 million for other members.
The lawmakers also plan to spend N100 million on office furniture.
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These lavish expenditures have sparked outrage among the citizens who are facing economic hardships and inflation.
The Kwara State Government has also faced criticism for approving N17.8 billion for the renovation of the Kwara Hotel, which has been abandoned for years.
The project, which was awarded to Craneburg Construction Company Limited, aims to upgrade the hotel to a five-star facility within 24 months.
However, Mustapha Mashood, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and a former governorship aspirant, has slammed the governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq, for wasting public funds on the hotel project.
Mashood said the project is “a waste of scarce resources” and the money should be “diverted to a project that would solve the immediate needs of the people of the state”.