Bauchi Assembly project to cost N7.8bn—Enough to build 390 schools, 3,768 toilets, or 2,888 boreholes
By Aminu Abubakar
The Bauchi state government has announced plans to spend N7.8 billion on renovating the state’s House of Assembly Complex.
Governor Bala Mohammed speaking on the development said:
“The government has provided temporary office accommodation for the legislature and plans to develop housing units for the three arms of government, which will not be sold to ensure their independence and security.”
“The contract for the project has been awarded to Mr. Architeronics Nigeria Limited following its track record of construction projects.”
Some of the buildings include the construction of the Assembly Services Commission building, the office of the members, the gate and gatehouse, the rehabilitation of internal roads and drainage, the completion of the perimeter fence rehabilitation, the construction of a 100 KVA solar backup power plant, and the rehabilitation of the water system.
The amount earmarked for the project, however, raises questions on the priority spending of the Bauchi state government.
The total capital expenditure budget of the Bauchi Rural Water and Sanitation agency for the whole of 2025 stands at N5.8 billion.
The capital expenditure of the state’s universal basic education stands at N8.9 billion, which is just N900 million more than what is planned to be spent on the House of Assembly Complex (N7.8 billion).
Only N1.7 billion was budgeted for the capital expenditure of Saadu Zungur State University, Gadau. The capital expenditure of Abubakar Tatari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi, stood only at N2.5 billion, less than the budgeted N7.8 billion for the construction and remodelling of the House of Assembly Complex.
Only N3.1 billion was budgeted for the hospital management board, and only N1.3 billion was budgeted as capital expenditure for the specialist hospital in Bauchi.
It is unclear why the Bauchi state government increased its budget for the House of Assembly complex to N7.8 billion.
Read Also:N1 Billion perimeter fence project overshadows educational needs at Bauchi Oil and Gas Academy
SolaceBase review of the budget documents of the state shows that only N45 million was budgeted for the complete renovation of the existing House of Assembly complex in 2025.
Another sum of N50 million was budgeted for the construction of an office complex at the Bauchi State House of Assembly.
Already, Bauchi suffers from developmental challenges; 65% of households in the state are said to lack access to sanitary facilities.
Another 48% of households lack access to clean drinking water, while 54% are deprived access to education.
The money to be spent on the construction of the House of Assembly Complex can be used for 2,888 boreholes across the state, with the state budgeting N2.7 million per borehole in the state for the 2025 fiscal year.
The state budgeted N20 million for construction of eight numbers classroom blocks in the state, this would mean that N7.8 billion can construct 390 numbers of eight numbers classroom blocks.
The state budgeted N414 million for the construction of 200 units of VIP toilets across the state. This would mean that each unit costs N2.070 million. This would mean that the N7.8 billion can construct 3,768 such toilets.
There have been calls for more priority spending by states, especially in the face of developmental challenges affecting rural areas.
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