The Federal Government has monetised the sum of N40 million out of N210
million earmarked for the procurement of vehicles for seven former
presidents and heads of state in the 2017 budget.
This is
contained in the financial report submitted by the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Boss Mustapha, to the House of
Representatives’ Committee on Governmental Affairs at a budget session
yesterday.
According to the report, the N170 million balance for
the procurement of the vehicles is expected to be re- leased before the
expiration of 2017 capital component of the budget, which was extended
to March 2018. This is even as an additional sum of N96 million has been
proposed for pro- curement of vehicles in the 2018 budget estimates.
The
former leaders expected to benefit from the largesse include General
Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General
Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Similarly,
from the total sum of N210 million proposed for procurement of vehicles
for former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and others,
the sum of N120.090 million has been released in 2017, while additional
sum of N90 million was proposed in 2018 budget estimate before the
National Assembly. The proposed procurements were part of the N2.492
billion and N2.492 billion capital expenditure approved for 2017 and
proposed for 2018 respectively.
The lawmakers, however, queried
the proposed N18.360 million for purchase of 27 laptop computers (Mac
Book) in 2018; N995,190,118 for purchase of security equipment; N64
million for purchase of monitoring trucks; N316 million for purchase of
motor vehicles; N124 million for 4(Nos) of 18 seated buses and 2(Nos) of
30-seater buses.
The sum of N130 million was also proposed for
procurement of 2(Nos) of Land Cruiser Prado Jeeps; the sum of N65.551
million for Ambulance and Clinic equipment while the sum of N170 million
was proposed for Independence/Democracy Day celebrations. While
responding, Mustapha explained that the Mac Book was for Council Chamber
considering the volume of work before them.
Other proposed
expenditure for 2018 include: N1.734 billion for political officers and
standing committee; N760.277 million honorarium and sitting allowance;
N133.421 million for welfare packages; N88.65 million for purchase of
office furniture and fittings; N18.36 million for purchase of computers
and N456.64 million for computer software acquisition while N106.834 is
for cleaning & fumigation services for the SGF headquarters.
The
sum of N116.64 million for support/maintenance of e-council document
management; N60 million for upgrade and turn around maintenance of
council chambers conference system; N30 million for radio frequency
identification device system (RFIC); N35 million for expansion of local
area network/OSGF website upgrade and N40 million for socio-economic
impact studies challenges/solutions.
Similarly, the 2017 budget
document showed that out of the total sum of N55 million proposed for
upgrading and turn around maintenance of Council Chambers System, the
sum of N54,400,500 has been released, leaving the balance of N599,500
only (98.91%).
From the sum of N35 million proposed for 1 Xerox
D125 Heavy Duty Photocopy Machine to enhance timely production of
Council memoranda, the sum of N34,938,750 was released (99.83%), leaving
a balance of N61,250 only.
Also, out of the total sum of N20.800
million proposed for the 52(Nos) of Mac Book procured in 2017, the sum
of N20.790 million (99.52%) has been released, while from the total sum
of N170 million proposed for Independence/Democracy Day celebration, the
sum of N138 million was released.
The sum of N116.64 million for
support/maintenance of e-Council document management; N60 million for
upgrade and turn around maintenance of Council Chambers Conference
system; N30 million for radio frequency identification device system
(RFIC); N35 million for expansion of local area network/OSGF website
upgrade and N40 million for socio-economic impact studies
challenges/solutions.
However, the 2017 budget document showed
that out of the total sum of N55 million proposed for upgrading and turn
around maintenance of Council Chambers System, the sum of N54,400,500
has been released, leaving the balance of N599,500 only (98.91%).