The Take It Back (TIB) Movement, Bauchi State Chapter, has raised concerns over allegations of financial mismanagement within the Bauchi State Government following an investigative report published by Sahara Reporters.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its State Coordinator, Nazif Bashi, the movement said it had taken note of claims that “ghost vouchers” and undocumented expenditures were used across several Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the state. The report reportedly mentioned key institutions, including the Government House and some tertiary institutions.
TIB Bauchi acknowledged that allegations remain allegations until they are properly investigated. However, the movement expressed deep concern that the claims were said to be drawn from the Auditor-General’s report, which is an official and statutory document meant to ensure accountability in government spending.
According to the statement, if public funds were truly spent without proper vouchers, approvals, or documentation, it would amount to a serious violation of financial regulations and a betrayal of public trust. The movement stressed that such allegations are especially troubling at a time when residents of Bauchi State are facing severe economic hardship.
The Take It Back Movement therefore called on the Bauchi State Government to respond openly and responsibly. It urged the government to publicly address the issues raised in the report with clear facts and evidence rather than silence. They also demanded the release of a detailed white paper to explain the questioned expenditures.
In addition, TIB Bauchi called for all officials found to be involved in any wrongdoing to be held accountable in line with the law. It also urged the state government to strengthen transparency, internal controls, and compliance with financial rules across all MDAs.
The movement emphasized that demanding accountability does not amount to opposition. It described transparency as a constitutional right and a civic duty of citizens. According to the statement, public office is a position of trust, and public funds must be managed with honesty and openness.
TIB Bauchi concluded by reaffirming its commitment to continue engaging authorities, monitoring developments, and demanding answers in a peaceful and lawful manner, always in the interest of the people of Bauchi State.
Saharareporters had earlier revealed in a report the systemic financial mismanagement and lack of accountability in Bauchi State’s public finance system have left retirees and citizens bearing the brunt of undocumented government spending.
The report highlights the ordeal of pensioners like Anjuma Babaji, who retired in November 2022 but went nine months without salary or pension, surviving on subsistence farming while his ₦3.7 million gratuity remains unpaid. Similarly, Adamu Ibrahim, who retired in 2017, endured nearly a year without income and still struggles with delayed entitlements, relying on his children for basic needs.
These personal struggles are linked to broader findings by WikkiTimes’ review of the Bauchi State Auditor-General’s reports, which uncovered widespread failures in financial accountability across ministries and top government offices. The 2024 audit revealed that hundreds of millions of naira were spent without proper documentation, approvals, or authorisation, in violation of established financial regulations.
Key findings include ₦182.8 million spent without supporting documents, ₦104.5 million paid without approval, and ₦261.7 million disbursed without authorisation, with the Office of the Chief of Staff alone accounting for over half a billion naira in undocumented expenditure. Similar infractions were recorded at the Ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Women Affairs, and Religious Affairs.
The report raises serious questions about governance, transparency, and oversight in Bauchi State, especially as pensioners continue to wait for their lawful benefits while public funds are released without traceable records, making accountability difficult and deepening public distrust.
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