President
Muhammadu Buhari will spend N18.1 billion in 2016 to run the State House,
Nigeria’s seat of power, an amount that is N11.5 billion more than what his
predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, spent in 2015.
The
amount is also N5.9 billion more than what Mr. Jonathan spent in 2014 on the
State House, details of the 2016 budget seen by Premium Times show.
Mr.
Buhari will, however, reduce the cost of feeding for the first and second
families, when compared to what the Jonathan administration spent in previous
years.
Mr.
Buhari presented a N6.08 trillion budget to the National Assembly last week,
promising more jobs, economic growth and a cut-down on frivolous spending.
But
details of the budget show that the State House will cumulatively receive N18.1
billion in 2016.
In
2014, Mr. Jonathan spent N12.2 billion on the State House, while in 2015, the
government spent N6.6 billion for the presidential office, amid dwindling
revenue occasioned by sliding oil prices.
The
costs cover the State House Headquarters, the president’s office and the office
of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
They
also cover the budgets of the State House medical centre and the Lagos Liaison
office.
One
of the most outstanding State House spending in 2016 will be the purchase of
BMW saloon cars at N3.63 billion. It is not clear yet what purpose the cars
would serve.
The
state house budget also contains a repeat of projects the Jonathan
administration repeatedly allocated funds for.
An
example is the purchase of computers, which has featured in budgets of previous
government each year.
In
2016, the State House will spend N27. 5 million on computers, while N268.9 will
finance computer software acquisition.
Aso
Rock will spend N764.7 million on recreational activities.
The
installation of electrical lighting and fittings, which received substantial
allocations in 2014 and 2015, will gulp N618.6 million next year.
The
budgets are subject to the approval of the National Assembly.
-Premium Times
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