The figures indicate that the government spent more than 53 times the amount released for new water infrastructure on honorarium and sitting allowances within the same period.
The Niger State Government spent more than N2.69 billion on honorarium and sitting allowances during the first six months of 2026, while allocating only N50 million to the construction of water facilities and nothing to the rehabilitation of existing water infrastructure, according to an analysis of the state's 2026 Second Quarter Budget Implementation Report.
The budget performance report shows that the state recorded a year-to-date expenditure of N2,694,832,210.36 (N2.69 billion) under the "Honorarium & Sitting Allowance" budget line between January and June 2026. The expenditure represents 14.4 per cent of the N18.75 billion earmarked for the item in the 2026 budget.
In contrast, the government budgeted N22.93 billion for the construction and provision of water facilities but released only N50 million during the six-month period. This amounted to just 0.2 per cent implementation, leaving an unspent balance of N22.88 billion.
The report further revealed that the state made no expenditure whatsoever on the rehabilitation and repair of water facilities despite making a budgetary provision of N2.95 billion for the purpose. The budget implementation for the item stood at zero per cent as of the end of the second quarter.
