Nigerians will cough out in taxes and other funding channels the sum of N21.137billion for routine maintenances and other services of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in the 2023 fiscal year.
This is contained in a breakdown presented by the Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar at a 2023 budget defense session before the Nigerian Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, even as he complained that the amount is inadequate.
A document obtained by africafirstnews.com indicate that out of the total sum of N21.137billion budgetary proposals, the State House has set aside N7.20billion for maintenances of facilities at the presidential Villa, which includes Electrical/mechanical installations, buildings and infrastructure in the President and Vice President's residences, the State House Auditorium, Presidential Banquet Hall, Council Chamber, among others.
N1.96billion is earmarked to take care of vehicle purchases, and N644million for maintenance of State House, Lagos Complex and other Guest Houses.
In the budget expenditure before the Senate, the State House Permanent Secretary, Umar told the lawmakers that the proposals and projections are inadequate, especially on the N1.96bllion set aside for the purchase of vehicles since according to him, 2023 is an election year and will require frequent travels.
Our Correspondent at the Budget defense session reports the exercise lasted for less than ten minutes as the Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Abba Moro, PDP Benue, had asked the Permanent Secretary to lay the proposed estimate before the Committee and take a bow.
