Bauchi State spent ₦22.53 billion on security votes in the first nine months of 2026, exceeding the ₦17.36 billion approved for the entire year, according to figures from the state’s third-quarter budget performance report.

The figures also show that some road projects consumed several times their approved allocations, raising questions about budget control, public spending and the role of the Bauchi State House of Assembly.

An investigation published by Secrets Reporters said the state had spent ₦17.29 billion on security votes by the end of June, representing 99.6 per cent of the full-year allocation.

However, another ₦5.23 billion was spent on the same budget line during the third quarter.

By September 2026, total security vote spending had reached ₦22,529,426,503.69, representing 129.8 per cent of the approved annual provision.

This means the state exceeded its security vote allocation by approximately ₦5.17 billion, with three months still remaining in the financial year.

Road projects recorded major spending increases

The budget figures also raise questions about expenditure on road construction.

One of the projects highlighted in the report is the Design and Construction of Duguri Mansur Road.

The project received an approved allocation of ₦1.5 billion, but the third-quarter report recorded expenditure of ₦12.31 billion.

That represents approximately 820.7 per cent of its approved provision, with spending exceeding the allocation by about ₦10.81 billion.

Another project, the construction of Sabon Kaura to Birshi Gandu to Yelwa Road, was allocated ₦100 million.

However, recorded expenditure reached approximately ₦1.13 billion, representing 1,135 per cent of the original provision.

The Construction of Road in Itas Gadau Local Government Area also recorded spending of about ₦1.54 billion against an approved allocation of ₦300 million.

The figures represent significant differences between the original budget provisions and recorded expenditure.

Was the House of Assembly informed?

The central issue raised by the investigation concerns the approval process for spending beyond the original budget.

Section 3 of the Bauchi State Appropriation Law 2026 reportedly requires prior approval from the House of Assembly before funds are transferred between budget provisions through virement.

Secrets Reporters said the third-quarter budget performance report recorded no revision to the original approved budget during the period and did not show any virement.

The publication therefore questioned whether the excess spending had received the required legislative approval.

However, the absence of a recorded virement in the report does not, by itself, establish that no other lawful approval or supplementary budget process existed. The state government’s explanation is important.

Questions the Bauchi government must answer

The figures raise several questions for Governor Bala Mohammed’s administration.

Why did security vote spending exceed the full-year allocation before the end of September?

What justified the spending of ₦12.31 billion on Duguri Mansur Road against an approved provision of ₦1.5 billion?

Who authorised the additional expenditure on the road projects?

Was the Bauchi State House of Assembly formally notified and did it approve the necessary budget changes?

What work has actually been completed on the affected roads, and how much has been paid to contractors?

These questions matter because budget allocations are approved through a legislative process, while public funds must be accounted for.

Yaro Insider sought the administration’s explanation on the reported figures. Any response from the Bauchi State Government or the House of Assembly should be included to clarify the approvals, payments and projects involved.

As for residents of Bauchi State, the issue goes beyond figures in a budget report. It concerns how public money is spent, who authorises expenditure and whether elected representatives can account for the decisions made in their name.

Also read: Bauchi’s roads: how much was budgeted and what was delivered?