Report Highlights Spending Disparities in Nasarawa State Budget

A review of Nasarawa State’s third-quarter budget performance for 2025 shows that N707 million was spent on refreshments and meals between January and September. During the same period, capital expenditure for the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency was N300.5 million.

Residents in areas such as Masaka and Karu continue to report severe difficulties accessing clean water. Many describe daily struggles to secure even basic supplies, with one resident noting that finding water “is like you have seen gold.”

The spending pattern follows previously noted budget allocations. The state’s 2025 budget designated N2 billion for the extension and renovation of the State House of Assembly complex in Lafia. In comparison, N960 million was allocated for constituency projects, which include repairs to boreholes, primary healthcare centres, and roads.

Further analysis reveals other budgetary contrasts: the construction of three-block classroom buildings across the state was budgeted at N665 million, while N1.5 billion was allocated for building new primary healthcare centres. Data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that 39% of school-age children in Nasarawa lack access to education.

The figures highlight a notable difference between administrative costs and funding for developmental projects addressing water, education, and healthcare in the state.