Lagos House Of Assembly To Spend N4.5billion To Procure 50KVA Generators For Lawmakers
The Lagos State House of Assembly — often hailed as the most powerful and independent state legislature in Nigeria — is once again in the headlines, but not for groundbreaking lawmaking or bold oversight. Instead, it is for a line item in the 2025 budget that has left citizens and policy analysts questioning the state’s spending priorities: N4.5 billion for the purchase and installation of forty 50KVA generators — a sum that, at N90.7 million per unit, represents one of the most expensive power procurement exercises by any state legislature in Nigeria’s history.
This revelation, first reported by SaharaReporters following a review of the state’s approved budget, has triggered a wave of online debates, civil society commentaries, and calls for legislative accountability. Many Lagosians are wondering why, in a state that prides itself on being the economic powerhouse of Nigeria and Africa’s fifth-largest economy, lawmakers still need to budget billions for personal power supply — particularly when Lagos’ budget runs into trillions and should, in theory, be capable of addressing infrastructure needs like uninterrupted electricity.
But the N4.5 billion generator procurement is just one piece of a bigger picture. This legislature has, in the past three years, drawn criticism for budget lines that include billions for cars, houses, landscaping projects, and even “thanksgiving events.” The cumulative picture raises questions about legislative excesses, weak public financial oversight, and the widening disconnect between elected officials and the citizens they represent.
Before diving into the specifics of the generator procurement, it’s important to understand why the Lagos State House of Assembly is such a unique institution. Lagos is not just Nigeria’s most populous state; it is also its commercial hub, contributing roughly 30% of Nigeria’s GDP. This economic clout translates into one of the country’s largest state budgets, with revenues surpassing many African nations.
The House of Assembly, composed of forty members, wields significant budgetary and oversight powers. Its Speaker and principal officers have historically acted as powerbrokers, influencing gubernatorial decisions, party primaries, and even federal appointments. This concentration of power has made the Lagos Assembly both admired and feared — but also susceptible to allegations of self-enrichment and fiscal recklessness.
According to the 2025 budget document, the project description reads: “Purchase and installation of forty 50KVA Generators.” The number forty is not coincidental — there are forty elected lawmakers in the Lagos House of Assembly. While the budget does not explicitly state that each lawmaker is to receive one generator, the one-to-one ratio strongly suggests that the purchase may be intended as individual allocations rather than collective infrastructure for the Assembly complex.
At N90.7 million per generator, the cost has sparked outrage. By comparison, a brand-new 50KVA diesel generator in Nigeria typically retails between N15 million and N20 million, depending on the manufacturer and features. Even after factoring in installation costs and possible “public procurement mark-ups,” analysts argue that the price remains highly inflated.
This latest procurement controversy comes on the heels of several others:
- Vehicle Procurement: Between 2023 and 2024, the Lagos Assembly spent N45 billion on vehicles for lawmakers — including backup cars, utility vehicles, and official cars. For 2025, an additional N20.6 billion is budgeted for a new round of vehicle procurement. If fully disbursed, Lagos would have spent N65 billion on vehicles for 40 lawmakers in just three years — an average of over N1.6 billion per lawmaker.
- Property Purchases: The Assembly is also spending N6.2 billion to acquire forty properties in Lagos and Abuja. The official purpose of these properties remains undisclosed. A billion naira has already been disbursed in the first half of 2025.
- Capital Projects: N30.3 billion is earmarked for “new fence/access road/landscaping and beautification.” Rehabilitation of the Assembly complex — including gatehouses, prayer complexes, car parks, and leisure facilities — will cost N11.041 billion.
- Thanksgiving Event: In 2024, critics accused the Speaker of authorizing N200 million for a thanksgiving event that civil society groups argued “should not have cost more than N2 million.”
When these expenditures are added together, the pattern suggests a legislature that is spending heavily on its own comfort, security, and perks, rather than on public-facing projects that directly benefit Lagosians.
Perhaps the most striking irony is that Lagos, which hosts some of Nigeria’s most significant power infrastructure — from the Egbin Power Plant to independent power projects (IPPs) — still budgets billions to buy private generators for its lawmakers. This is a reflection of the national energy crisis, where even public institutions cannot rely on grid power.
However, analysts point out that instead of spending billions on private power solutions, the Assembly could have invested in renewable energy or small-scale solar grids for its members’ constituencies, which would have a multiplier effect on productivity and economic growth.
The generator procurement story has sparked sharp reactions:
- Civil Society Groups such as the BudgIT Foundation and SERAP (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) have called for a public explanation and urged Lagosians to demand accountability through the Freedom of Information Act.
- Social Media Commentary: On X (formerly Twitter), Lagos residents have described the budget item as “obscene,” “tone-deaf,” and “proof that lawmakers see public funds as personal entitlements.”
- Opposition Politicians have seized on the controversy, accusing the ruling party of wasteful spending and using the Assembly as a vehicle for patronage.
Beyond social criticism, there are formal allegations of corruption. The Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged mismanagement of N17 billion meant for the construction of a gate at the Assembly complex.
The petition alleges that contracts were awarded to front companies at inflated costs, with kickbacks allegedly traced to political officeholders. Although no charges have yet been filed, the controversy underscores growing concerns about opacity in Lagos’ legislative procurement processes.
Nigeria’s democracy is still consolidating, and legislatures are supposed to be the guardian of public funds. When lawmakers themselves become symbols of excess, it erodes public trust. The Lagos case illustrates how public perception of government waste fuels citizen disengagement, lowers tax compliance, and heightens calls for radical reform — sometimes even extra-constitutional solutions.
For a state that prides itself on innovation and good governance, this generator saga risks undermining the credibility of the entire state apparatus.
To prevent recurring controversies, several reforms are urgently needed:
- Budget Transparency: Publish granular, line-by-line budgets in citizen-friendly formats and allow real-time public commentary.
- Open Procurement: Conduct generator and vehicle procurements through competitive open bidding with third-party observers.
- Independent Oversight: Establish an independent Lagos Assembly Budget Monitoring Committee composed of civil society groups.
- Renewable Alternatives: Shift away from diesel generators to hybrid solar-diesel systems, cutting long-term costs and emissions.
- Performance Audits: Mandate annual performance audits of Assembly spending, made public.
The Lagos Assembly’s N4.5 billion generator budget is more than just a financial decision — it is a test case for whether Nigeria’s democracy can deliver transparency and fiscal responsibility at the subnational level.
If unchecked, it risks reinforcing the narrative that governance in Nigeria is about serving political elites rather than the people. If properly interrogated — by the press, civil society, and anti-corruption agencies — it could become a turning point, forcing state legislatures across Nigeria to justify their spending and rethink their priorities.
For Lagosians struggling with rising transport fares, food inflation, and inadequate public services, this is not just about generators — it is about whether the state’s resources are being used to power lives or power privileges.
Source: SR