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2013 Budget: N1.3 billion Is Not Enough for Refreshments, Meals – State House

By on November 21, 2012

The N1.305 billion allocated for the Presidency in the 2013 budget for refreshments, meals, and other miscellaneous expenses has been declared grossly insufficient.

Nigerian Senators could not believe their ears when they heard this, since the budget set aside a whooping N1, 305, 292, 050 just for refreshment, meals, and other miscellaneous expenses for the presidency.

This fact became bare when the State House Permanent Secretary Mr. Emmanuel Ogbile appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to defend the N14. 7 billion Presidency budget proposal for 2013.

The N14. 7 billion proposal has under it N203, 752,432 allocated to refreshment and meals, N107, 412,768 for honorarium and sitting allowance, while is set aside for N37, 277, 825 is for publicity and advertisement.

While Medical expenses is set at N50, 308,546, welfare packages are allocated N195, 066,223, Postage and courier services N10, 035,583, sporting activities will take N32,910,730, then subscription to professional bodies will consume N4,589,793.

Summit/ extra ordinary sessions, including the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and others, will take N228, 112,862, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), IT, LOCUM, houseman ship and contract staff allowances are estimated to cost N144, 788,555.

Overtime is allocated N250, 455,589. Feeding of animals, including animal supplements for the veterinary clinic, is voted N30, 584,144.

A member of the committee, Senator Isa Galaudu, cried out that the amount is “outrageous.”

He decried that the country’s budget in one year is what South Africa spends in five years.

On the other hand, Ogbile reacted that the proposed amount is not even enough.

Ogbile said, “I have taken pains to explain that this money is not just to fund the residence of the President and that of the Vice President.

“The experience I have had is that this fund is grossly insufficient. It’s not even enough.”

The Permanent Secretary said, “The Federal Executive Council (FEC) holds every Wednesday and we take care of them through this budget.”

Ogbile listed other expenses that are taken care of in the refreshments and meals vote to include National Economic Council (NEC), presidential retreats, National Merit Award, Children’s Day, hosting of dignitaries, Council of State, and conferences in the Banquet Hall.

Committee Chairman Senator Dahiru Kuta quickly told Ogbile that the Merit Award has its own budget.

In another explanation to support the budget he insisted that based on the long list of functions and activities under the Presidency, “the amount of N1.305 billion is not enough.”

In his words, “Distinguished senators, I have taken time to explain what the fund is meant for. I say with all sense of responsibility that the fund is not enough, based on what the fund is meant for.”

In the end, Kuta said the committee would consider the proposal on its merit.

One Comment

  1. t boy

    November 21, 2012 at 10:56 am

    Nawawo datz Naija 4 u