The security of Security Votes

Security Vote gives governors a lot of financial muscle with which they use to “settle” the state, extend largesse and win votes during elections. Visiting VIPs and government officials on official and unofficial visits receive their “Thank You For Coming” from the almighty security vote. The amount on a monthly basis provides the latitude for Nigerian governors to manoeuvre and bestride the state like emperors.

SECURITY Vote, SV as it is popularly referred to in politics and governance circles is the monthly security allowance by state governors in Nigeria to ensure the maintenance of peace, safety and security of the state under their watch; which is their primary responsibility as enshrined in the Nigerian constitution.

Whoever came up with the concept of security vote is an evil genius. The genesis of security vote in Nigeria dates back to the military era of President Ibrahim Babangida, when governors were appointed by the military head of state. Governors have since that era been entitled to funds for the protection of the lives and property in their state. From that time, the figures and deployment of security votes by governors have taken dynamic dimensions.

Security vote was the major cause of the famous feud between Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu and Governor Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja of Oyo State. Security vote is the reason why the governor was impeached only to be reinstated by the court. The figure then was said to be N6million. Today, the figures for individual states have skyrocketed, varying from state to state and ranging between N250million to N2billion.

Security votes are not to be accounted for, since it is a “security issue”. Expenditure of the fund drawn from the federal purse is at the discretion of the state governor. Disclosure, expenditure statements or any retiring of accounts are not part of the deal, given the very sensitive nature of security.

Viable states and insecurity-laden zones attract high security votes. The higher the insecurity, the higher the security vote. The more prevalent crime, banditry, insurrection, religious uprising and militancy, the more the security vote. Security vote is a legitimate fund to tackle illegitimate activities.

Recently, the Nigerian Army Chief of Staff, Tukur Buratai disagreed openly with state governors on the use of the security vote claiming it is given to gross misappropriation and abuse. Another school of thought queries the existence of security vote for state governors when there is a funding pool and mechanism for the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, Police Force, Department of State Services and other security agencies.

What then do governors do with the security vote? Expenditure is not cast in stone but a peep into the accounts will safely reveal a myriad of uses and deployment of the all important SV.

It is from the monthly SV pool that the Chief Security Officers of sub nationals “take care” of the security commanders in their states who are usually members of the security council. Some top royal stools are covered with security vote.

The foreign exchange black market benefits greatly from the monthly security vote as Naira changes to dollars, pounds and euro. Community and religious leaders partake of the security vote being influencers, opinion moulders and social mobilisers.

Family members, friends, media practitioners and student union leaders enjoy the largesse of security vote. Sometimes private jet owners enjoy patronage from the luxury of security votes. Local and foreign investment companies, property owners, banking and financial institutions secure deposits and enjoy  huge transactions from security votes.

Musicians, actors, former colleagues, past governors, old school mates, faith-based organisations, old student associations, political and social groups, unions and trade organisations, neighbours, nephews and nieces including political appointees, party chieftains at both the local, state and national levels partake of the SV largesse.

Wedding ceremonies, funeral ceremonies, landmark birthdays are funded in full or in part by the security votes of Nigerian State Governors. Contributions to the party, support and “counterpart” funding of elections in other states are sourced from security votes.

Security Vote gives governors a lot of financial muscle with which they use to “settle” the state, extend largesse and win votes during elections. Visiting VIPs and government officials on official and unofficial visits receive their “Thank You For Coming” from the almighty security vote. The amount on a monthly basis provides the latitude for Nigerian governors to manoeuvre and bestride the state like emperors.

Security Votes are paid in cash. Security votes is the reason why a personal assistant leaves office better off than higher ranking political appointees. No governor should leave office broke with the steady flow of security votes which confers financial security. At a very modest calculation of a savings of N50million each month, multiplied by 48 months in office, a governor who leaves office after one term will be N2.4bn rich in cash.

What then should the security vote be used for? Security vote is for funding security operations including intelligence gathering that will ensure public order and safety in Nigerian states. It however is given to abuse because of the lack of accountability that comes with it. The courts have not been able to abolish it or pronounce it illegal nor give vent to its accountability.

When gubernatorial aspirants within parties and candidates across parties contest for the number one seat in the 36 states across the federation, they have their eyes on security vote. It is the security of the security that provides the impetus for the huge amounts borrowed and expended during electioneering campaigns where no candidate spends less that a conservative two billion Naira.

Governors start earning security vote from day one creating a soft landing for those who dared to liquidate investments and sell properties in the contest for Government house. The implication of this which Nigerians are very much oblivious of is the plain fact that when they vote a governor into office, they have inadvertently given that individual the mandate to access and expend millions of Naira monthly at his discretion sans legislative oversight or independent audit. Security vote is a smart way of betraying public confidence and trust.

Security vote is a very secure source of financial security for governors. Security vote is indeed the “security” of Nigerian governors. The only challenge is how to justify the huge funds allocated to security vote in the midst of the high insecurity levels amongst states in Nigeria, characterised by not just attacks on innocent citizens but on VIPs including governors and traditional rulers.

It is therefore a paradox that Nigeria is bedevilled with high insecurity at a time when security vote to state governors is at its highest. Surely, it is time to rethink the concept and implementation of the Security Vote.