A review of the budget performance documents has shown that the Ogun State government under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun spent the sum of N2.3billion on welfare, refreshment and foodstuffs in the first three months of 2024.

According to the document, the sum of N323million was spent on pilgrimage and other religious festivals, while refreshment and meals gulped N228million.

Welfare packages stood at N1.7billion. Foodstuffs also gulped N25million. In total, N2.3billion was spent on welfare. 

The expenditure is less than what it spent on capital expenditure for the Agriculture ministry, with N123million spent on this venture. 

The Bureau of Job creation and Youth empowerment spent Zero naira on its capital expenditure.

Also, 60% of the N3.8billion capital expenditure on works and infrastructure was spent on pilgrimage, welfare packages, foodstuffs and refreshments. 

Ogun State prioritised welfare packages over rural development as it spent zero naira on capital expenditure of the ministry of rural development.

Only N493million was spent on the capital expenditure for the housing ministry. 

More was spent on welfare packages than capital expenditure for the ministry of education, science and technology with N1.7billion spent for education, science and technology capital needs of the state. 

Only N151million was spent on the capital needs of the health sector of the state in the first three months of 2024.

The ministry of community development and cooperative recorded zero naira as capital expenditure.

Ogun State expenditure on welfare packages also comes amid high debt servicing expenditure put at N11.8billion in the first quarter of 2024.