Thirty-three state governments spent at least N512.10 billion on Government Houses, Governors’ Offices and travel and transport in the first six months of 2026, according to an analysis of state budget implementation reports.
The amount is about 4,713 times the combined six-month basic salary of Nigeria’s 36 governors, highlighting the significant difference between governors’ official salaries and the broader cost of maintaining their offices.
A governor’s stated monthly salary of N503,000 amounts to N3.018 million over six months. For the 36 governors, the combined figure is N108.65 million.
By comparison, available records showed that N420.01 billion was spent under Government House, Governor’s Office and related executive administration expenditure, while another N92.09 billion went to travel and transport.
The combined N512.10 billion represented spending on the broader structures and activities surrounding the executive offices, rather than the personal income of the governors.
The analysis showed that the governors’ combined six-month salaries accounted for only about 0.02 per cent of the identified expenditure.
The figures come amid renewed debate over the salaries and remuneration of Nigerian governors, following comments by Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori that his monthly salary was N503,000.
Oborevwori had argued that some senior civil servants, including permanent secretaries, earned more than governors, with some receiving about N900,000 monthly.
However, the analysis of state spending shows that the basic salary of a governor constitutes only a small portion of the public resources committed to maintaining the office.
Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure covers a broad range of official activities, including administration, staffing, protocol, maintenance, official residences, utilities, security-related operations, state functions and other costs associated with running the executive arm of government.
Similarly, travel and transport expenditure covers official local and international trips, transportation and related expenses across the wider state public service.
The analysis was based on available first- and second-quarter 2026 Budget Implementation Reports, using the largest identifiable Government House, Governor’s Office or executive administration expenditure line in each state, alongside the general travel and transport expenditure head.
Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Borno, Cross River, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara had complete data for the analysis.
Comparable data were unavailable for Edo, Osun and Rivers states.
Spending lower than 2025
Available records for the first half of 2025 showed N465.07 billion spent under Government House, Governor’s Office and similar executive administration heads, while N92.73 billion was recorded for travel and transport.
The combined 2025 figure stood at N557.80 billion.
Based on the states and budget heads for which comparable data were available, the first-half 2026 figure represents a reduction of N45.70 billion, or 8.19 per cent, from the corresponding period of 2025.
Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure accounted for the larger share of the reduction, falling from N465.07 billion in the first half of 2025 to N420.01 billion in the corresponding period of 2026.
This represents a decline of N45.05 billion, or 9.69 per cent.
Travel and transport expenditure remained relatively stable, falling marginally from N92.73 billion in the first half of 2025 to N92.09 billion in 2026.
The N643.66 million decline represents a reduction of 0.69 per cent.
The figures indicate that while spending on Government Houses and executive administration moderated in the available records, expenditure on official travel remained broadly unchanged.
Kogi tops Government House spending
A state-by-state analysis showed that Kogi recorded the highest identifiable Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure during the first six months of 2026, at N65.34 billion.
It was followed by Ogun with N45.26 billion and Lagos with N45.04 billion.
Kano recorded N25.87 billion, Ekiti N25.22 billion and Cross River N23.92 billion.
Bayelsa recorded N22.99 billion, while Imo and Enugu recorded N19.43 billion and N16.20 billion respectively.
At the lower end of the available records, Oyo recorded about N1.95 billion, followed by Sokoto with N2.20 billion, Kwara with N2.59 billion and Abia with N2.78 billion.
Kogi’s expenditure alone accounted for more than 15 per cent of the identifiable Government House and Governor’s Office spending captured in the 2026 dataset.
Plateau leads travel spending
For travel and transport, Plateau recorded the highest identifiable expenditure at N10.11 billion during the first six months of 2026.
Lagos followed with N8.23 billion, while Taraba recorded N5.16 billion.
Niger spent N4.45 billion and Ekiti N4.41 billion, while Bauchi and Yobe recorded N3.75 billion and N3.68 billion respectively.
Oyo recorded one of the lowest identifiable amounts at N667.52 million, while Kano recorded N626.95 million.
Wide variations across states
The data also revealed significant variations in spending patterns between 2025 and 2026.
Kogi’s Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure rose from N51.99 billion in the first half of 2025 to N65.34 billion during the corresponding period of 2026, an increase of N13.34 billion, or 25.66 per cent.
Bayelsa’s spending increased from N14.48 billion to N22.99 billion, representing a rise of N8.51 billion, or 58.75 per cent.
Cross River recorded one of the largest increases, with expenditure rising from N9.91 billion to N23.92 billion, an increase of N14.01 billion, or 141.37 per cent.
Ekiti, which had no comparable 2025 figure in the dataset used for the analysis, recorded N25.22 billion in the first half of 2026.
Some states, however, recorded declines.
Ogun’s identifiable Government House and Governor’s Office expenditure fell from N49.83 billion in the first half of 2025 to N45.26 billion in 2026, a reduction of N4.57 billion, or 9.17 per cent.
Kano’s expenditure dropped from N28.84 billion to N25.87 billion, representing a decline of N2.98 billion, or 10.32 per cent.
Niger, however, recorded an increase from N13.13 billion to N14.15 billion, amounting to an additional N1.02 billion, or 7.74 per cent.
Lagos also recorded a significant increase, with identifiable spending rising from N25.86 billion in 2025 to N45.04 billion in 2026. This represents an increase of N19.18 billion, or 74.16 per cent.
Economist questions cost of executive offices
Development economist Aliyu Ilias said the figures demonstrated why assessing the cost of governors’ offices solely on the basis of their official salaries could be misleading.
Ilias argued that executive offices in Nigeria had become expensive to maintain, partly because political office holders exercised considerable influence over the structure and funding of institutions under their control.
He said the cost of maintaining political offices, combined with travel allowances and other official expenses, meant that a governor’s basic salary did not reflect the full financial benefits or public expenditure associated with the position.
Ilias also criticised what he described as the weak oversight exercised by some state assemblies over executive spending.
He said the high cost of political office had contributed to the perception that elective positions were particularly attractive, with some politicians allegedly willing to incur substantial costs to secure electoral victory.
RMAFC reviewing political office holders’ remuneration
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is constitutionally responsible for determining the remuneration of governors and other political office holders.
The existing remuneration framework remains in force while a broader review is being processed by the relevant authorities.
RMAFC recently said its review of the remuneration of executive and legislative office holders had reached an advanced stage, with proposed legislation expected to be considered by the National Assembly.
The spending also comes against the backdrop of increased allocations to state governments following the Federal Government’s economic reforms.
Previous Ministry of Finance data showed that N47.25 trillion was shared through the Federation Account between 2023 and 2025, representing more than half of the N93.13 trillion distributed over the nine-year period from 2017 to 2025.
The increase in revenue available to states has intensified public scrutiny over whether additional resources are translating into improved infrastructure, healthcare, education and other public services.
The latest figures highlight the substantial gap between the official salaries of governors and the wider cost of maintaining the executive structures around their offices.
While a governor’s basic salary may appear modest, the cost to taxpayers extends to Government Houses, official administration, security, protocol, maintenance, transportation and travel.
