Olusesan Oba
Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has reportedly expended a staggering total of N3,320,263,570.41 over three months to run his office.
In a parallel financial move, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) allocated N82,579,953.72 for the operational needs of the SSG’s office.
This prodigious spending contrasts sharply with the state government’s financial obligations, as nurses and other Enugu State Teaching Hospital (ESUT-Parklane) workers remain unpaid for eight months.
The disconcerting revelation comes from the Enugu State Budget Performance report for the third quarter, with the state website featuring the detailed breakdown. Notably, the government also disbursed N15,348,007.42 to support the Lagos Liaison office.
Within the same three-month period, a significant sum of N476,118,498.74 was allocated for the 25-member state house of assembly, as revealed on page 34 of the budget performance for the 3Q.
The breakdown illustrates that Governor Mbah’s administration directed N150,480,105.05k toward fuel and lubricants, with fuel expenses alone accounting for N119,900,292.60k within the review period.
Page 31 of the budget performance documents further reveals that Governor Peter Mbah’s government spent over a total of N2.3 billion on various expenses, including meal subsidies, newspapers, inducements, wardrobe allowances, and transport allowances, among others. In a stark contrast, page 30 shows a lack of investment in Education under capital expenditure.
This revelation surfaces amidst prior reports in October of workers at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, ESUT-Parklane, protesting the non-payment of seven months’ salary arrears by the Enugu State government. The affected staff, including nurses, cleaners, and security guards, had expressed their grievances through demonstrations, demanding their rightful wages.
Despite these protests and the mounting financial challenges faced by the hospital workers, the government’s prioritization of substantial office expenditure raises questions about the allocation of resources and financial responsibility within the state.
