Yahaya Bello budgets millions for burials in Kogi

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello
Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello

Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, and his deputy, Simon Achuba, have budgeted N14million for themselves to support burial ceremonies.

The allocation was seen by Premium Times in the state’s 2019 Appropriation Act.

The online news platform says the subhead in the Act did not state whose burial the funds were allocated for.

It said that N12million was allocated to Mr Bello for burial, while his deputy got N2million for the same purpose.

The Act, it said, also made provision of N15million for the “Hire of Private Houses.”

Bello’s spokesman, Onogwu Mohammed, said the funds for burial were meant to serve for a year to assist families of dead persons within the governor’s office.

Among expenditures, the Act also made provision of a separate N50million for ‘Financial Assistance’ after provisions had already been made for donations to different organisations.

For instance, N70million was provided for donations; N70million for assistance to Nigerian legion; N10million to NYSC; N10million to the less privileged and N50million to orphanage homes.

Mr Mohammed said the budgetary provisions were well scrutinised before being approved.

He said the allocations represented the highest level of prudent management of resources.