The Ebonyi State Government has come under scrutiny over its spending priorities after a review of its 2026 budget performance revealed that more than N30 billion went into debt servicing, vehicle purchases, computers and internet services between January and September.
The expenditure is significantly higher than the N9.37 billion spent on Primary Healthcare and Basic Education combined during the same period, raising concerns about how public funds are being distributed under Governor Francis Nwifuru’s administration.
Details contained in the state’s third-quarter budget implementation report, dated October 28, 2026, showed that Ebonyi recorded a total expenditure of N256.71 billion in the first nine months of the year.
A breakdown of the figures showed that N22.60 billion was spent on servicing public debt. This covered interest payments and repayment of both domestic and foreign loans.
The government also committed N7 billion to purchasing motor vehicles, while another N300 million went into trucks and N20 million into buses. Combined, the identified vehicle purchases amounted to N7.32 billion.
Other administrative expenses included N60 million for computers and N30 million for internet services. Altogether, the four spending categories accounted for approximately N30.01 billion.
However, spending on essential social services was considerably lower.
The report indicated that Primary Healthcare received N5.31 billion between January and September, representing 55.7 per cent of its annual budget of N9.53 billion.
Basic Education recorded an even lower expenditure of N4.07 billion out of its N14.14 billion yearly allocation, representing just 28.8 per cent.
Interestingly, almost all the money recorded under Basic Education went to primary schools, while junior secondary education received only N30,000 during the nine-month period.
This means the combined expenditure on healthcare and basic education was less than one-third of what the state spent on debt obligations, vehicles, computers and internet access.
The figures also showed that billions of naira allocated to these critical sectors remained unused as September ended. Primary Healthcare had about N4.22 billion left from its annual provision, while Basic Education had approximately N10.07 billion unspent.
The state’s revenue position also presents an important part of the picture. Ebonyi received N205.81 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) between January and September, while its total revenue, excluding opening balances, stood at N259.32 billion.
Including opening balances, total revenue reached N307.55 billion, compared with expenditure of N256.71 billion.
Despite the revenue available, the state had utilised only 22 per cent of its N719.55 billion capital expenditure budget by the end of September, with capital spending standing at N158.23 billion.
The spending pattern has attracted attention because Ebonyi continues to face challenges in healthcare delivery and access to quality education, particularly in rural communities.
Several primary healthcare facilities in the state have reportedly struggled with inadequate medical supplies, poor infrastructure and shortages of qualified health workers. Some communities also face difficulties accessing essential healthcare services.
Education remains another major concern, with reports pointing to deteriorating school buildings, insufficient teaching facilities and children dropping out because their families cannot afford the cost of schooling.
Data cited in the report put Ebonyi’s out-of-school rate among children aged six to 15 at 16.7 per cent, higher than the South-East regional average of approximately 7.5 per cent.
Other factors contributing to poor school attendance include financial difficulties, early marriages and inadequate learning facilities, particularly in rural areas.
Against this background, the latest budget figures have raised questions about why substantial amounts of money remain unspent in healthcare and education while billions have already gone towards debt servicing and administrative purchases.
Although the state government has significant financial obligations, the disparity in actual spending has renewed concerns over whether sufficient attention is being given to the basic needs of ordinary residents.
The figures have placed the Nwifuru administration’s budget priorities under fresh public scrutiny, particularly as residents continue to demand better hospitals, functional schools and improved living conditions.
