Gombe Lawmaker Seeks Transparency Over Reported ₦14.9bn Governor's Residence Project
By The Analyst Online Media
A member of the Gombe State House of Assembly, Hon. Mustapha Usman Hassan, has called on the Gombe State Government to provide comprehensive details regarding the reported ₦14.9 billion contract for the construction of a new Governor's Official Residence within the Government House complex.
In a statement published on his official Facebook page, the lawmaker expressed concern over the reported project, arguing that it comes at a time when the state continues to grapple with pressing developmental challenges requiring significant investment in critical sectors such as healthcare, education, water supply, agriculture, security, and youth employment.
According to Hon. Hassan, the proposed project is reportedly designed to comprise four prototype residential units, each featuring a basement, ground floor, first floor, second floor, and rooftop, in addition to an attached building designated as the Governor's section.
The legislator questioned the necessity of constructing a new official residence, asking whether the existing Governor's Lodge is structurally unsafe, inadequate, or beyond economic rehabilitation. He also sought clarification on whether the state possesses the fiscal capacity to undertake such a project without compromising funding for essential public services.
Hon. Hassan further requested that the government explain the anticipated public benefits of the project, the opportunity cost of committing ₦14.9 billion to the development, and the technical assessments, valuation reports, and Bill of Quantities (BoQ) that informed the reported contract sum.
He also raised concerns over six detached automated duplexes within the Government House, reportedly constructed through direct labour and completed towards the end of 2025, but allegedly left unoccupied since completion.
The lawmaker called on the relevant authorities to disclose key details concerning the duplexes, including their approved contract value, actual expenditure, funding source, procurement and implementation process, intended purpose, present status, as well as their projected maintenance and operational costs.
Citing the provisions of the Gombe State Council on Public Procurement and the Public Procurement Bureau Law, Hon. Hassan urged the Public Procurement Bureau and the Executive Arm of Government to make available relevant documentation, including the Bill of Quantities, project justification, cost-benefit analysis, procurement records, payment schedules, funding structure, actual expenditure, and the legal basis for the reported use of direct labour.
He maintained that his request is consistent with his constitutional and statutory oversight responsibilities as a member of the Gombe State House of Assembly, emphasizing that transparency and accountability are indispensable to good governance.
"This is not about politics or personalities. It is about responsible governance, fiscal prudence, transparency and accountability in the management of public resources," Hon. Hassan stated.
He added that the people of Gombe State deserve a government that prioritises their welfare and ensures that every public expenditure delivers measurable value and tangible benefits to citizens.
As of the time of filing this report, the Gombe State Government had not publicly responded to the concerns raised by the lawmaker.