Senator Buba Demands Probe of Bauchi’s 61 Housing Units Allocated to Security Personnel
Rights Group Gives Governor Bala Mohammed Seven-Day Ultimatum, Threatens Legal Action
Senator Shehu Buba Umar, representing Bauchi South Senatorial District, has called for an independent investigation into the reported allocation of 61 newly acquired housing units along the Bauchi–Gombe Road to security personnel by the administration of Governor Bala Mohammed.
The Senator demanded a comprehensive examination of the project’s funding, legislative approval, intended beneficiaries and compliance with relevant laws, amid growing concerns over the welfare of civil servants and the neutrality of security institutions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
His intervention followed a seven-day ultimatum issued to Governor Mohammed by the Association for the Emancipation of the Oppressed People of Bauchi State, demanding the reversal of the allocation and the redistribution of the houses to deserving civil servants.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media, Comrade Sabo Mohammed, Senator Buba urged relevant government institutions to investigate the circumstances surrounding the housing project and establish whether the allocation was consistent with the public interest.
He said the controversy raised important questions about transparency in public expenditure, government priorities and the need to preserve public confidence in security agencies, particularly as Nigeria approaches another election cycle.
“Examine the matter objectively, determine the true purpose and intended beneficiaries of the housing project, and verify whether the decision aligns with governing laws and the public interest,” the Senator appealed.
Buba specifically called on the Bauchi State House of Assembly to exercise its constitutional oversight responsibilities by investigating the project and determining whether the expenditure received the necessary legislative authorisation under the Bauchi State 2026 Appropriation Law.
He urged lawmakers to establish the source of funding, ascertain the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of the properties and examine the criteria used in selecting the beneficiaries.
The Senator also appealed to anti-corruption agencies and other relevant investigative institutions to conduct a prompt, transparent and impartial examination of the transaction.
He stressed that the demand for scrutiny should not be misconstrued as an allegation of wrongdoing against the Governor, security personnel or any government institution.
“This call for an investigation is not a declaration of guilt against any individual or institution, but rather a demand for accountability, transparency, and credible answers,” he clarified.
“The citizens of Bauchi State have a right to know how public funds are deployed, the rationale behind property acquisitions, who benefits from them, and whether the law has been strictly upheld,” Buba added.
The controversy followed a formal legal notice dated October 20, 2026, issued to Governor Mohammed through Musa Ogah & Co. on behalf of the Association for the Emancipation of the Oppressed People of Bauchi State.
The notice, initiated by the association’s President, Alhaji Ahmed Hassan Buzaye, and signed by Musa Mohammed Ogah, Esq., challenged the reported allocation of the 61 housing units to security personnel.
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The association questioned the government’s priorities in allocating what it described as properties worth billions of naira to security personnel at a time when many civil servants in the state reportedly faced serious housing difficulties.
It argued that the circumstances surrounding the allocation warranted public scrutiny, particularly regarding the source of funding, the intended purpose of the housing project and the criteria for determining its beneficiaries.
The group demanded that the state government reverse the allocation within seven days and redirect the houses to civil servants.
It warned that failure to comply with the demand would compel the association to institute legal proceedings seeking an injunction to restrain further distribution of the properties.
The association also questioned whether the state government had taken into consideration existing Federal Government housing arrangements for security institutions before deciding to allocate the properties.
Beyond concerns about public expenditure and civil servants’ welfare, the group raised questions about the timing of the allocation, arguing that the provision of substantial housing benefits to security personnel ahead of the 2027 elections could generate public perceptions about their institutional independence.
The association did not establish that the beneficiaries had acted improperly or that the allocation was connected to electoral activities. Its concerns centred on the need for transparency and the preservation of public confidence in security institutions.
Senator Buba similarly emphasised the importance of ensuring that security agencies remained professionally independent and were not drawn into political controversies arising from government decisions.
He maintained that a credible investigation would help clarify the facts, address public concerns and protect the reputations of the institutions and individuals involved.
The lawmaker further called on organised labour, professional associations and civil society organisations to examine the implications of the reported allocation, particularly for workers’ welfare and accountability in public administration.
He specifically urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to review the development and take appropriate steps within their respective mandates to protect the interests of their members and the wider public.
According to the Senator, the involvement of relevant professional and labour organisations would help ensure that concerns surrounding the housing project were addressed through lawful, transparent and institutional processes.
The controversy has placed renewed attention on the management of public resources, housing provision for government employees and the responsibilities of elected officials to account for major expenditure decisions.
While the rights group is demanding the reversal of the allocation, Senator Buba has called for an investigation to establish the facts before conclusions are reached.
The statements provided did not include the Bauchi State Government’s explanation of the housing allocation, the documented source of funding or the terms under which the security personnel were selected as beneficiaries.
The outcome of any legislative or independent investigation would therefore be important in determining whether the reported allocation complied with the applicable budgetary and administrative requirements.
By PRNigeria
