Secretariat staff canteen renovation in limbo: N978m released, but construction not underway

Despite the substantial allocation of N1 billion for the renovation of the Lagos Secretariat Staff Canteen in Alausa in the 2024 budget, work has yet to begin, leaving workers frustrated and seeking alternative dining options. The project, which aims to enhance the aesthetics and functionality of the canteen, is facing significant delays, despite nearly 97 per cent of the funds meant for the project has already being released according to a budget document sighted by The Guardian.

While the 2024 budget is expected to terminate in two to three weeks time as a new 2025 budget, which is already before the state assembly is expected to take off, the provided fund in the 2024 budget for the renovation of the canteen has been substantially released if the budget document sighted by The Guardian is anything to go by.

A document on the third quarter budget performance of the state government as provided by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning showed that at the end of the third quarter of the 2024 budget circle, the budget line item on renovation of staff canteen has recorded a 97 per cent budget performance amounting to N978 million.

The document also revealed that of the N978.13 million, N105.945 million was released in the third quarter which implied that about N872.18 million was released for the execution of the project in the first and second quarter of the budget circle.

However, despite about 97 per cent of the N1 billion for the renovation of the canteen has been released, work has not commenced leaving the workers to opt for alternative eating spots within and outside the state secretariat.

Also worthy to mention is that the budget line item for the renovation of the staff canteen put Alausa Secretariat and Old Secretariat in bracket, which probably meant that the budget provision is for the staff canteen at the Alausa Secretariat and Old Secretariat.

But The Guardian findings from multiple sources including staff within Alausa and Old Secretariat revealed that there is no staff canteen within the Old Secretariat.

Similarly, in the 2023 budget, there was a provision for renovation of staff canteen. The state government in that appropriation law budgeted N29.719 million of which N21.865 million was released at the end of the fourth quarter of the 2023 budget. The budget document recorded it as a 73.6 per cent budget performance.

Although unlike the 2024 budget line item that specified the staff canteen being renovated, the 2023 budget provision for staff canteen renovation did not specify, which canteen was to be renovated, whether it is the same Alausa Secretariat staff canteen or another one entirely.

Commenting, a civil servant, who pleaded anonymity, stated that it was when the traders within the canteen were expelled that he got to know that the canteen is about being renovated.

He said he was happy believing that after the renovated is completed, the canteen will become more attractive for workers and visitors to the secretariat to patronise.

“Many do not see the canteen as a place to take breakfast or lunch before it was closed down. So, the thinking is that it would be renovated and its services upgraded.”

Also commenting, another civil servant, who asked that her name should not be mentioned, said that he was surprised that such a huge fund was allocated to renovate a canteen, yet the renovation is not being done as the fund is being rolled out.

“That such a huge sum of money has been released for the project as you said the budget document provided and yet nothing has been done calls for a re-evaluation of our values and ideas.”

The Guardian contacted the Public Affairs Officer of the state Head of Service for what is delaying the renovation of the canteen, he said he was driving and would get back but he was yet to get back as at press time.