New data seen by Politics Nigeria indicates that the ten poorest states in Nigeria owe local and foreign creditors about N1.18tn.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Sokoto, Bayelsa, Gombe, Jigawa, and Plateau were the top five poorest states in 2022.
Yobe, Kebbi, Taraba, Ebonyi, and Zamfara are the next in line, according to the NBS.
These top 10 poorest states had a total of 43.99 million poor people, which was 33.08 per cent of the total population of poor people in Nigeria.
Apart from these high poverty rates, the ten poorest states also struggled with local and foreign debts. The states had N998bn domestic debt and $386.16m foreign debt.
Interestingly, the poor states are catering to the luxurious needs of their former governors.
In Jigawa, a governor who completes his term without impeachment will be entitled to a monthly pension equivalent to the current salary of the current governor.
The state government will provide two brand-new vehicles to be replaced after every four years.
The ex-governor will also get a six-bedroom fully furnished house, two personal assistants, two drivers, a fully furnished office in any location of choice and fully paid medical treatment within Nigeria and abroad.
The deputy governor is also to get a monthly pension equivalent to the incumbent’s salary, one assistant, one brand-new vehicle, a four-bedroom flat, and an office in a location of his choice.
In Sokoto, each former governor gets N200 million every four years.
At the same time, the deputy is entitled to perks amounting to N180 million and monetisation for other entitlements, including domestic aides, residences, and vehicles that can be renewed every four years.
