A review of Nigeria’s proposed 2026 budget by SaharaReporters shows that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), headed by George Akume, plans to spend ₦496 million on photocopying machines and office furniture.
According to the budget details, the allocation is for the purchase, supply, and installation of office equipment, including three heavy-duty photocopy machines for the Cabinet Affairs Office and the provision of office furniture.
This comes against the backdrop of similar expenditures in the 2025 approved budget, where the OSGF allocated ₦400 million for the purchase and distribution of grinding machines across several federal constituencies. Specifically, ₦100 million each was earmarked for empowerment projects in Ifako-Ijaiye (Lagos State) and Bonny/Degema (Rivers State), while ₦200 million was budgeted for the same purpose in Kaduna South Federal Constituency.
Further scrutiny of the 2025 budget revealed that the Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology also set aside ₦195 million for grinding machines. This included ₦75 million for Birnin Kebbi, ₦80 million for Aliero, and ₦40 million for Maiyama.
These allocations have drawn public attention amid ongoing debates over budget transparency and spending priorities.
In addition, a check on the federal government’s payment portal, Govspend, showed that ₦9.6 million was spent on branded towels to mark Akume’s 70th birthday celebration. The payment, made on December 21, 2023, was reportedly issued to Okwoli Aromeh, a Chief Administrative Officer in the SGF’s office, to produce souvenir towels for the event held in Akume’s hometown.
Akume, who turned 70 on December 26, 2023, later confirmed the celebration in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, describing it as a platinum jubilee marked by a church service in Wanune, Tarka Local Government Area of Benue State.
George Akume was appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation in June 2023. However, in May, a civil society organisation, Voice of the Voiceless Nigerian, called for his suspension over alleged involvement in an ₦80 billion fraud. The group expressed concern that despite investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the reported arrest of one of Akume’s aides, no action had been taken against the SGF himself.
The organisation described the situation as unacceptable, particularly under an administration that campaigned on an anti-corruption agenda.
