The Bureau Newspaper’ review of the Bayelsa State budget performance document has shown that the state budgeted to spend the sum of N5.4 billion on anniversaries and celebrations for the 2024 fiscal year.
According to the document, the state budgeted less for other critical sectors.
For instance, the budget for the rehabilitation of hospitals/health centres stood at N1.5 billion while the rehabilitation of public schools stood at N3.9 billion.
Only N1.5 billion was budgeted for rehabilitation of roads by the state, in the list of rehabilitation and repairs, the highest expenditure was that on repairs/rehabilitation of residential building at N4.3 billion which is also less than the N5.4 billion budgeted for anniversaries and celebrations.
Further review shows that N1.5 billion was budgeted for water facilities.
This comes despite Bayelsa State having 95% of households unable to access sanitary facilities. Also, 78% of households in the state also lack access to clean drinking water.
This also comes despite that the level of unemployment in the state was put at 36.7% as of 2022, by the National Bureau of Statistics.
It also comes amid calls for a review in the cost of governance.
SaharaReporters recently reported how the state recently budgeted the sum of N420 million for Christmas decorations and praise night.
The state budgeted the sum of N230.3 million for praise night and thanksgiving service while the sum of N190 million was budgeted for Christmas decorations by the state government, totalling N420 million.