Another controversy is brewing in Lagos as it appears to have become a standard practice for members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to be eligible for ₦155 million for housing through provisions in the budget.
The second quarter budget performance report for 2025 shows that ₦6.2 billion was approved for the purchase of 40 residential houses in Lagos or Abuja, which is one house for each lawmaker. So far, ₦1 billion (16.1% of the approved) in cash disbursements has taken place.
The approved allocations for housing provisions is the first time that it has appeared in this way in a State document. In 2023, the Government Budget Office (GBO) made a provision for ₦1.22 billion approved purchases as part of the housing provisions, with ₦1.131 billion recognized expenditure at that time. There was also a provision for housing in the 2024 similar to this and where only ₦126 million was disbursed out of that years ₦126 million (about 1.4% of the approved allocation) for housing provisions.
What remains unclear is whether the properties procured in previous years were distributed to members of the ninth Assembly or reserved for the current tenth Assembly. According to critics, the level of transparency surrounding allocations created significant transparency and accountability challenges.
Legal considerations have also been raised. Section 124(5) of the 1999 Constitution sets out provisions about remuneration and other benefits for former governors and their deputies, but no mention is made about similar provisions for legislators.
Analysts have warned that the housing provisions may be challenged under constitutional law, as has happened in other Nigerian states, such as in 2019 when legislators in Bayelsa State had a proposed life pension rejected.
Given the current economic situation in Nigeria, the news has prompted significant public discussion about government decision-making and priorities, in addition to what justification there could be for housing provisions to a number of Assembly members when citizens are groping with inflation, increased cost of living, and declining quality public sector service.
The event must open the door to deeper scrutiny to compliance with the allocation process, especially with budget provisions as a whole around delivery of state and national resources to the public and not only to certain segments.
Observers say the development underscores the need for greater scrutiny of budgetary provisions at both state and national levels to ensure public resources are used for broad-based development rather than elite perks.
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