Civic Accountability · Nigeria

NGScorecard

Previously in Bauchi:
Term report
4
Inherited problems
2
Fixed
2
Partial progress
Fixed
Partial progress
Finance
A heavy state debt burden from the outgoing administration
Partial
The problem
Governor Bala Mohammed stated at his May 2019 inauguration that he inherited a debt burden of N136 billion — N96 billion from previous administrations and an additional N40 billion incurred by the immediate past APC administration of Mohammed Abubakar. Debt Management Office records showed domestic debt at N92.4 billion and external debt at $134.9 million as of December 2018.
What was done
The administration grew IGR substantially, accessed a N100 billion bond for infrastructure, and met debt-service obligations while increasing capital expenditure. However, the state's debt profile continued to rise, with domestic debt reaching N160.81 billion and foreign debt at $187.63 million by 2023, and the state took a reported N26 billion loan in the first quarter of 2025.
Governance
An over-bloated civil service and ghost worker crisis
Partial
The problem
The incoming administration inherited a civil service with an estimated 110,000 workers and retirees on the payroll, a monthly wage bill that had ballooned to N5.2 billion under the previous administration, and widespread ghost worker allegations. The state ranked 25th on the IGR table in 2018, generating only about N9.69 billion annually.
What was done
The administration suspended 41,000 workers without BVNs, introduced biometric verification and automated payroll systems, and raised the monthly wage bill transparency. The IGR grew to over N34 billion annually by 2023. However, the wage bill also rose to N7 billion monthly, and the civil service remained bloated relative to the state's revenue base.
Infrastructure
Dilapidated education and health infrastructure
Fixed
The problem
Bauchi State had one of the highest out-of-school children populations in Nigeria (estimated at 1.5 million), with pupils learning under trees and dilapidated classrooms. Primary healthcare facilities were poorly equipped, and the state secretariats had not been renovated for 27 years.
What was done
The administration constructed 233 new classroom blocks, renovated 406 classrooms, provided N5 billion in school furniture, upgraded three model primary schools with ICT centers and laboratories, and renovated state and local government secretariats. Over 130 PHCs were constructed or renovated, and the out-of-school population was reportedly reduced to 500,000.
Governance
N2.3 billion spent on funeral materials without appropriation
Fixed
The problem
The incoming administration alleged that the previous administration spent N2.3 billion on funeral materials between January and May 2019 without proper legislative appropriation. The former governor countered that he only spent N1.2 billion and that financing burials was an inherited practice.
What was done
The administration publicized the allegation as part of its transparency agenda and implemented tighter public financial management controls, including Treasury Single Account automation and Open Government Partnership commitments. No recurrence of such expenditure was reported under the new administration.