The All Progressives Congress (APC), Bauchi State Chapter has slammed Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed accusing him of misappropriating and mismanaging the state’s resources to the tune of hundreds of billions of Naira received from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) as well as loans collected on behalf of the State.
The Bauchi State chapter of the APC, in a statement signed by Saadu Umar, its Chairman Publicity Committee, and titled: “Ambassador Tuggar spoke truth to power. The gospel truth, backed by facts and figures … He deserves commendation not condemnation,” stated that the Governor was reaping the benefits of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu government through increased State allocations but was misappropriating the funds.
“Governor Bala and other Governors had advocated for subsidy removal even before the election of Tinubu in 2023. Indeed Bala and the PDP campaigned on it in the last general election. Even the Tax Reform Bills are now acceptable to Bala. He got what he wished for; he’s enjoying it yet, he’s cursing the goose that lays the golden egg.
“While Bala reaps the fruits of the FG’s economic policies in billions monthly, as pointed out by Tuggar, he plays the ostrich and blames the President for all his ills. Honest Governors like Uzodinma of Imo confessed that Tinubu’s bountiful economic policies are “direct blessings to the State Governments” and the policies afford Governors the chance to grow and develop their States.
“Governor Sule of Nasarawa aired the same sentiment saying if people in the States are suffering, their Governors are responsible, because the Governors are getting windfalls — fruits of Tinubu’s policies,” the statement noted.
The APC Bauchi Chapter stated that Governor Bala Mohammed had received over N150Billion from the Federation account since he resumed office and had mismanaged the money.
“Bala got ₦133.18 Billion from Federation account by the end of Q3 2024, according to the Budget Performance Report 2024.
“Last October and November, Bala got another windfall of ₦18 Billion taking his total to ₦150 Billion in 11 months. Besides, Bala borrowed another ₦100 Billion! And what did Bala do with the money? Mismanagement. Misappropriation. Here’s why.
“He paid ₦11.7 Billion to a “Financial Consultant” without appropriation, according to Bala’s Budget Report. This Consultant cornered over ₦21 Billion in the last two years. And, Bala built big beautiful white hacienda for himself. He even demolished a mosque and an Islamiyyah school in the process. Demolition of mosques and schools reminds me of Gaza and Netanyahu. Ironically, Bala, before becoming Governor, thought a Governor who builds a new house is a thief. Or is he? Listen to Bala’s viral clip, recorded during the 2019 Governorship Campaign.”
The party accused the Governor of failing to improve healthcare in Bauchi State despite the availability of funds from FAAC, stating that it was the intervention of the Minister of Health, Professor Pate, who is also an indigene of the State that has catered to the health needs of the State.
“Bala couldn’t employ healthcare professionals to carter for our healthcare needs. Only 10.9% of hospitals have medical doctors in the entire State and only 19% have a nurse, according to Wikkitimes citing figures from BudgIT 2024 report. Hundreds of infants die of malnutrition!
“It’s the intervention of Professor Pate, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, that’s our saving grace. Prof Pate brought many healthcare projects, (with hundreds of jobs, direct and indirect), like the Federal Medical Centre Misau, upgrade of FMC Azare to Federal Teaching Hospital, Radiology Centre in ATBU Teaching Hospital, free CS for expecting mothers and reductions in the cost of dialysis to ₦12,000 from ₦50,000.”
Speaking further, the APC Bauchi State Chapter stated that it took the interventions of Federal Legislators to provide basic amenities to the State such as hospitals and educational facilities, stating that the Governor was spending state resources on elephant projects while upgrading his Government House with the sum of over N16 Billion.
“Our five Federal Legislators too are helping with construction of hospitals and educational facilities in their respective constituencies. For instance, Hon. Isma’il Dabo is building at least 2 hospitals in Toro — at Kwamɓo, Shau and other villages.
“Again, Bala upgraded his Government House with ₦16.1 Billion on a ₦6.1 Billion original budget, according to Bauchi Auditor-General’s report, reported by Sahara Reporters in November 2024. Instead of spending on healthcare, education and human capital development, as advocated by Tuggar, Bala prefers to spend Bauchi money elsewhere — boondoggles, white elephant projects, mismanagement — ₦31.7 Billion spent on corrupt and unaccounted security votes, over ₦38 Billion Government House overhead costs, according to Bala’s Budget Report. And, corruption and self-dealing involving Adda Nigeria Ltd to the tune of ₦4.6 Billion, according to reports by Premium Times and others.”