Bayelsa 2026 Budget: Diri to Spend N1.2bn on Foreign Trips, N500m on VIP Hosting, N100m on Christmas Decorations
A review of the Bayelsa State 2026 budget estimates has shown that the state government made provisions amounting to N100 million for Christmas decorations at the Government House, PulseNets learnt.
Beyond the festive allocation, PulseNets obtained details indicating that N500 million has also been earmarked for the hosting and entertainment of VIPs at the Government House throughout the 2026 fiscal year.
Further scrutiny of the budget document revealed that the Governor’s Office plans to spend N1.2 billion on international travels within the same period, according to information obtained by PulseNets.
Earlier findings by PulseNets from a review of the Bayelsa State budget performance report for the third quarter of 2025 showed that N401 million was expended on international medical expenses between January and September 2025.
Within the same timeframe, the state reportedly spent just N5.5 million on capital expenditure for the state-owned Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), PulseNets learnt.
PulseNets also reviewed an earlier budget performance document which showed that between January and September 2024, the Bayelsa State Government spent N306 million on international medical trips.
In contrast, N71 million was spent on capital expenditure for the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital during the same period.
For the 2024 fiscal year, the state had budgeted a total of N780 million for capital expenditure for NDUTH, PulseNets reported.
Records reviewed by PulseNets indicate that Bayelsa State has maintained a consistent pattern of significant spending on overseas medical treatment.
For instance, in 2023 alone, the state reportedly spent N872.8 million on medical trips abroad, according to figures obtained by PulseNets.
This pattern has continued despite repeated public calls for fiscal discipline and growing demands for public officials to reduce reliance on foreign medical care and invest more deliberately in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
At the federal level, PulseNets recalls that in February 2022, a bill seeking to impose a N500 million fine on public officials who embark on medical trips abroad using public funds passed second reading at the House of Representatives.
The proposed legislation sought to amend the National Health Act 2014, officially gazetted as Federal Republic of Nigeria Official Gazette No.145, Vol.101 (HB.1611).
During deliberations, lawmakers explained that the bill was designed to compel public office holders to “prioritise Nigeria’s healthcare system and take deliberate, corrective steps to strengthen and develop the sector.”
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Citing Clause 2(2) of the proposed amendment, a lawmaker explained that it stated: “Any public officer of the Government of the Federation or any part thereof who violates the provision of sub-section (1) shall be guilty of an offence and, upon conviction, liable to a fine of five hundred million naira, imprisonment for a term of seven years, or both.”
However, PulseNets learnt that the bill sparked intense debate, particularly over concerns about imposing a blanket restriction on public officials. These objections ultimately stalled the legislation, which failed to progress further, much like similar bills that were previously rejected by the National Assembly.
