An analysis of the 2024 budget has uncovered an unsettling fact — the Federal Government allocated ₦7.76 billion for 16 projects benefiting traditional rulers in Nigeria. These projects are expected to be carried out by eight different federal ministries and departments, as reported by the International Centre for investigative Reporting (ICIR). The ministries include Information and Orientation, Agriculture and Food Security, Industry, Trade and Investment, Labour and Employment, Health and Social Welfare, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
An example of such projects include providing SUVs and cars for traditional rulers at a cost of ₦400 million, empowering the council of traditional rulers with training worth ₦100 million, and conducting conflict resolution training for traditional rulers totalling ₦50 million. There are a total of 13 projects specifically assigned to monarchs in various states across Nigeria. Among these, three projects are designated for monarchs in Lagos, two for leaders in Katsina and Ogun states each, and one each for monarchs in Akwa Ibom, Ondo, Oyo, Kogi, Plateau, and Kaduna states. Additionally, there are three projects that do not have specific locations identified.
Budget for monarchs is higher than NFF’ budget.
These three unspecified projects involve the allocation of ₦5 billion for official vehicles to selected rulers in the six geopolitical zones and an additional ₦40 million for supporting traditional rulers and chiefs. Meanwhile, ₦447.09 million was allocated for partnership, strategy engagement, and field operational support of traditional leaders to enhance primary healthcare services. This discovery came to light shortly after allegations of budget padding in the 2024 budget by the National Assembly, which resulted in the suspension of Senator Abdul Ningi.
In its analysis of the budget, the ICIR found that the ₦7.76 million earmarked for traditional rulers is significantly higher than the allocation of the approved for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigerian Institute of Sport (NIS), which was ₦2.05 billion and ₦1.72 billion respectively. Upon comparison of the approved projects for the ₦7.76 billion allocation with the mandates of the ministries, the ICIR discovered potential discrepancies in certain appropriations. Taking for example, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security will be delivering SUVs and cars to monarchs in the Ikeja Federal Constituency in Lagos State, as well as providing ₦40 million for the support of traditional rulers in an unspecified location.
Budget for monarchs projects was ₦721.31 million in 2023.
Also, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment is expected to utilize ₦5 billion towards providing vehicles for traditional rulers as part of their efforts to enhance industrialization and attract investment. In addition, the Ministry of Labour and Employment will be using ₦100 million to build and furnish the Takkas traditional ruler’s palace and cultural arena in Plateau State. The ICIR further conducted a thorough investigation into the budget allocations of eight ministries and departments as at when President Bola Tinubu’s presented the proposed budget to the National Assembly. Surprisingly, no mention of funds allocated to traditional rulers was found within the proposed budget of these ministries.
This indicates that the increase in the proposed budget to ₦28.7 trillion, signed by the President, was partly due to the inclusion of ₦7.76 billion for monarchs. The ICR conducted a review of previous years’ approved budgets to analyse the funding allocated to traditional rulers, finding that in the 2023 budget, ₦721.31 million was designated for seven projects spanning five ministries benefiting monarchs. Furthermore, the federal government allocated ₦326.65 million for three projects in the revised 2022 budget. In the 2021 budget, ₦607.37 million was designated for six capital projects for the monarchs in the budget.
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Although there are no specific restrictions in the constitution regarding which capital projects can be included in the budget, by funding for traditional rulers are normally managed at the local level. The ICIR found that many states either establish a special commission for traditional rulers or delegate the responsibility for their Welfare to the Local Government Commission. In an interview with the ICIR, legal expert Lukman Raji expressed his belief that including provisions for traditional rulers in the Federal Government’s budget is unnecessary, as this responsibility should be handled by the state government budgets.