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2013 Budget: Presidency to Spend N1.5 billion on Computers after spending N1.5 billion on same in 2012

By on October 22, 2012

President Goodluck Jonathan and his deputy, Namadi Sambo break and share the bread

 

Investigative analysis into the 2013 and 2012 budget has shown that the presidency plans to spend N1.5 billion on computers and office stationery. The N1.5 billion earmarked funds covers the Presidency and some of its agencies including the Border Communities Development Agency, Bureau for Public Enterprises, Bureau for Public Procurement, National Emergency Management Agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative and National Institute for Strategic Studies, Jos.

Other agencies to benefit fro te largesses include National Boundary Commission, National Atomic Energy Agency and Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals.

What comes as a total surprise is the fact that the Presidency budgeted approximately N1.5 billion for similar expenses in the 2012 budget. This means that the Presidency is spending the same amount of money to buy new computers every year without any positive oversight by the National Assembly.

In effect, the legislative wing is allowing the government to spend oney recklessly without any checks and balances.

According to a source, “The Senate and House of Representatives members allow the Presidency to pad the budget so it can award contracts to relatives, friends and political supporters. In return, the Presidency does not expose the rot in the constituency projects system.”

In the 2013 budget, the Presidency will spend N332.9 million on office stationery and computers whilst the vice-Presidency will spend N175 million.