29 governors borrow fresh N446bn as revenue slumps

The rise in the debt service costs in the country has forced 29 state governors to borrow a total sum of N446.29 billion amounting to 80.7 per cent of their Internally Generated Revenues (IGRs) during the first six months of 2024.

The development would however impact significantly the financial burden of the sub-nationals especially with a 40 per cent increase in its statutory allocation from the Federation Account.

The information was contained in an analysis of data from each state’s website and Open Nigerian States.

This BudgIT-backed website serves as a repository of government budget data.

The performance report is prepared quarterly and issued within four weeks from the end of each quarter.

This heavy burden underscores a critical issue in fiscal management, as the vast majority of the revenue that states could otherwise allocate to essential public services and development projects is being diverted to meet debt obligations.

It also revealed the constraints faced by state governments in managing their debt burdens inherited from previous administrations and addressing the needs of their residents.

Nigerians had hoped that with the increased statutory allocation of 40 percent from the federal government, state governors should have more than enough to fulfill their statutory obligations.

In 2023, state governors got the most FAAC allocations, especially the states, followed by the petrol subsidy removal and currency reforms of the current administration.

The reforms have reportedly led to a 40 per cent boost in income which experts believe the revenue increase should have reduced state governments’ appetite for more borrowings.

Instead, the sub-nationals are budgeting huge amounts in spending and a part of the money in servicing loans payment and taking more loans.

Most of the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee funds for Osun, Ondo, Kaduna, and Cross Rivers states will be used in servicing debts this year because these states currently have a deficit of N10.94bn, N27.72bn, N15.83bn and N10.02bn respectively following debt servicing deductions by FAAC.

With such a large portion of revenue being used to service debt, it becomes increasingly challenging for states to achieve long-term economic stability and improve the quality of life for their residents.

Earlier this year, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani had complained about the huge debt burden inherited from previous administrations, stressing that it had halted the prompt payment of salaries and led to more borrowings in the last nine months of his government.

The governor who made this known while addressing a Town Hall Meeting at the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall stated that his administration inherited a total of $587m, N85bn, and 115 contract liabilities.

He said, “Despite the huge debt burden of $587m, N85bn, and 115 contractual liabilities sadly inherited from the previous administration, we remain resolute in steering Kaduna State towards progress and sustainable development. 

"We have conducted a thorough assessment of our situation and are sharpening our focus accordingly.”

Recall that 22 states spent a total sum of N251.79bn to service debt borrowed by past administrations within nine months of assuming office (July 2023 and March 2024).

The situation also forced the state governments of Ekiti, Cross River, and Ogun to propose a suspension of their foreign debt repayments worth $501m due to severe foreign exchange volatility.

The request, though rejected by FAAC, was part of their efforts to mitigate the heightened debt service burdens, which state officials claimed had significantly hampered their ability to service existing debts.

Experts say the high debt servicing costs leave little room for investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, and other key areas vital for economic growth and social welfare.

Meanwhile, an analysis of the budget implementation report showed that Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Edo, Katsina, and Niger spent between 60 and 80 percent of their internally generated revenues to repay owed debts.

Also, states such as Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Jigawa, Enugu, Kebbi, Kwara, Ondo, Osun Zamfara, and Oyo disbursed between 13 and 58 per cent of their revenues for debt servicing. Also, the amount spent on debt servicing for nine states including Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Imo, Kano, Kogi, Plateau, Taraba, and Yobe exceeded their revenues within the period.

Data for Benue, Nasarawa, Ogun, Rivers, Sokoto, and Kaduna states were not available as of the time of filing this report. Only Lagos State recorded an impressive IGR of N603.71bn while it paid N201.49bn as debt charges.

A state-by-state breakdown indicated that Abia State under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti spent N4.83bn on servicing its debt, while it earned N15.6bn as revenue, representing a ratio of 31 per cent.

Adamawa spent N14.48bn on its debt but earned N5.75bn, recording a deficit of minus 252 per cent, Akwa-Ibom state spent N20.78bn on its debt servicing but got N31.74bn IGR indicating 65.4 per cent ratio.

Anambra serviced its debt with N4.8bn but got N18.61bn IGR at a ratio of 25.9 per cent. Bauchi got a debt service ratio of minus 42.9 per cent after it earned N3.92bn but spent N16.8bn on servicing. Bayelsa spent N17.84bn on servicing but earned N46.98bn as revenue, indicating a servicing ratio of 38 per cent.

Further analysis of the report indicated Borno spent N7.25bn on debt charges and earned N12.04bn, representing a ratio of 60.2 per cent, Cross River had a debt service ratio of 60.7 per cent after it spent N12.05bn on loans and got N19.86bn IGR.

Delta State’s burden was 58.2 per cent after it spent N39.08bn on reducing its debt and earned N67.05bn within the period under review. Ebonyi had a 48.6 per cent debt ratio due to its N5.05bn spending on debt and N10.39bn revenue collection. Edo State under the leadership of Governor Godwin Obaseki spent N22.66bn on servicing and collected N34.44bn as revenue, indicating a debt ratio of 65.8 per cent.

Ekiti had a debt service ratio of 47.9 per cent after it spent N7.85bn on loans and got N16.39bn IGR. Enugu spent N3.49bn on its debt but earned N16.39bn, indicating a 20.6 per cent ratio. Gombe spent N13.07bn on its debt but earned N9.6bn, recording a deficit of minus 136 per cent. Imo State also recorded a deficit of minus 1.10 percent after it spent N10.68bn on servicing but got N9.69bn as revenue.

Also, Jigawa State spent N1.89bn on servicing while it earned N4.55bn as revenue, representing a ratio of 41.6 per cent. Kano recorded a deficit of minus 244.4 percent due to N60.02bn expense on debt but collected N24.57bn as revenue.

Katsina had a 77.4 per cent debt ratio due to its N8.14bn spending on debt and N10.51bn revenue collection. Kebbi spent N1.99bn on its loan servicing while it earned N4.79bn as revenue, representing a ratio of 41.6 percent. Kwara State recorded the lowest debt-to-revenue ratio of 13.9 percent and spent N4.87bn on debt charges but collected N35.1bn as revenue.

Kogi spent N12.79bn on servicing and collected N12.75bn as revenue, indicating a debt ratio of minus 1.06 per cent. Niger State recorded a debt ratio of 80.7 per cent due to debt charges of N11.88bn and revenue collection of N14.73bn.

Ondo State recorded a debt to revenue of 52.4 per cent, Osun (43.2 per cent), Oyo (57.2 per cent). Plateau State recorded the highest debt-to-revenue ratio of minus 550.76 per cent, spending N61.23bn on debt charges but collected N11.11bn as revenue.

Taraba and Yobe states recorded a deficit of minus 283.5 per cent and 1.16 per cent respectively.

The Director/CEO of the Centre for Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, stated that the significant debt servicing cost was adversely impacted by the depreciation of the naira, which caused a decline in its value relative to other currencies.

He noted that the enormous debt burden inherited by the current administration is also straining state finances and impacting its ability to meet major obligations.

Muda said, “The point is that these states inherited a huge burden of debts. The figure mentioned may sound outrageous but is not much when calculated in dollar terms. Multilateral debts are also tied to infrastructural projects and developmental purposes. Borrowing is not in itself bad if it is used for developmental purposes but the burden of debt must not suffocate the state finances and affect its ability to fulfill major obligations.

“Also, those debts are foreign and once the naira depreciates, it affects the level of debt. As they struggle to service it, the level is still going up because of the exchange rate depreciation. With the depreciation of the currency, the burden of servicing those loans has become extremely very heavy. The exchange rate factor is a major challenge in the debt burden of many states.”

Ajibola, a former president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, lamented that state assemblies had also abandoned their oversight duties, leaving the state governors to operate with no iota of transparency and accountability.

Further analysis showed that Cross Rivers State was among the states that got the highest loan of N121.22bn between January and June. It was followed by Oyo State with N55.36bn loans. Third on the list is Kogi State with loans worth N41.22bn.

Katsina State also obtained loans worth N34.09bn from creditors within the quarter.

Other states including Niger got N34.03bn, Gombe (N32.38bn), Ondo (N20,82bn), Borno (N20.7bn), Bauchi (N19.28bn), Taraba (N20.23bn), Yobe (N10.17bn), Kwara (N10.06bn), Ekiti (N7.94bn), Ebonyi (N6.43bn), Kano (N6.15bn), Abia (N3.37bn), Enugu (N1.39bn).

The states with the least borrowing include Edo (N633.73m), Osun (N250m), and Plateau state with N530.86m loan.