Office Of Nigerian Government Secretary, George Akume To Spend N496million On Photocopier Machines, Furniture In 2026

The budget description reads, "purchase of office equipments including supply and installation of three numbers heavy duty photocopy machines for cabinet affairs office end room and supply of office furniture."

A SaharaReporters' review of Nigeria’s 2026 budget has shown that the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (OSGF), George Akume, plans to spend N496million on photocopier machines and office furniture.

The budget description reads, "purchase of office equipments including supply and installation of three numbers heavy duty photocopy machines for cabinet affairs office end room and supply of office furniture."

Previously, a SaharaReporters' review of Nigeria’s approved 2025 budget showed that a sum of N100 million was approved for the purchase and supply of grinding machines for empowerment in the Ifako-Ijaiye Federal Constituency in Lagos State, under same Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Further review showed that another sum of N100 million was budgeted for the supply and distribution of grinding machines in the Bonny/Degema Federal Constituency of Rivers State, also under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

The same office also budgeted a sum of N200 million for the supply of grinding machines in the Kaduna South Federal Constituency in Kaduna State.

In total, a sum of N400 million was budgeted for the purchase and distribution of grinding machines in 2025 by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Further review of the 2025 approved budget document showed that the "Nigerian Institute of Transport Technology" budgeted a sum of N195 million for the purchase of grinding machines.

According to details contained in the budget document, a sum of N75 million was allocated for the purchase of "grinding machines for the people of Birnin Kebbi" under the transport institute’s budget line items.

Also, a sum of N80 million was budgeted for grinding machines for the people of Aliero.

Another sum of N40 million was budgeted for the purchase of grinding machines for the people of Maiyama.

The three budget lines for grinding machines total N195 million.

This development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of the 2025 budget document.

Additionally, a review of the public payments portal, Govspend, revealed that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, spent N9.6 million on branded towels for his birthday.

The payment was made on December 21, 2023.

According to the description, the money was paid to Okwoli Aromeh "to the officer, to enable him produce souvenirs (branded towel gift items) in respect of SGF's landmark birthday celebration in his home town."

Okwoli, who received the money, is listed as the Chief Administrative Officer in the office of the SGF.

It would be recalled that Akume celebrated his 70th birthday on December 26, 2023.

He wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on December 27, 2023:

"Today marked a momentous occasion as I celebrated my Platinum Jubilee by hosting a heartwarming 70th birthday celebration and interdenominational service at St. Christopher's Catholic Church in(toggle his ancestral home of Wanune, Tarka LGA of Benue State."

George Akume was appointed SGF in June 2023.

In May, a civil society group, Voice of the Voiceless Nigerian, called for the immediate suspension of Akume over allegations of involvement in an N80 billion fraud.

In a statement released in Abuja and signed by the group’s National Secretary, Oba Adewole Oluwatosin, the organisation expressed deep concern over what it described as the silence of authorities despite ongoing investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The group noted that Mr. Torhile Uchi, an aide to Akume, had already been arrested and interrogated, yet no action had been taken against the SGF himself.

"It is unacceptable that verifiable allegations of corruption are being swept under the carpet under an administration that campaigned on anti-corruption," the statement read.