A staggering expenditure of N403 million for the renovation of toilets by the Federal Ministry of Justice has sparked widespread public outrage and concern over the country’s fiscal management.
Records from the government’s public payment portal, GovSpend, reveal that the hefty amount was spent in a single day, raising eyebrows over the administration’s spending priorities.
The revelations point to the payments made under the leadership of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
According to the data, on June 27, 2024, a total of N158 million was disbursed for the renovation of toilets at the Federal Ministry of Justice headquarters, while another N245 million was paid to a contractor, Optional Concepts Limited, for a similar project.
This eye-popping N403 million disbursement, on the surface, appears disproportionately high for such a project.
The funds expended on toilets could have been allocated to more pressing infrastructural needs.
For instance, according to government records on the GovSpend platform, the same amount could have been used to renovate 66 blocks of three classrooms, each costing N6.1 million per block.
Furthermore, the funds could have been channelled towards providing 51 solar-powered boreholes, with each borehole costing N7.8 million.
The expenditure has generated widespread backlash, particularly given the current economic difficulties the country is facing.
Nigeria’s debt has ballooned to N121 trillion as of the first quarter of 2024, while inflation and other economic pressures have left the populace grappling with increasing hardship.
The Nigerian government’s call for debt relief has amplified the urgency for better fiscal discipline and resource management.
According to reports, N1.904 billion was spent in March 2024 alone, followed by a further N7.3 billion in May 2024.
Additionally, it was reported that the State House expended N1.5 billion on foreign exchange for travel and rehabilitation of Presidential buildings on July 17, 2024
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