N1.3bn refreshment allocation for Presidency insufficient - Ogbile

 

Emmanuel Ogbile, the State House Permanent Secretary on Tuesday said the N1.305 billion allocated for the Presidency in the 2013 budget for refreshments, meals, and other miscellaneous expenses was insufficient.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to defend the N14. 7 billion Presidency budget proposal for 2013.
The Nigerian Senators were marveled since the budget set aside the sum of N1, 305, 292, 050 for refreshment, meals, and other miscellaneous expenses for the presidency.
The N14. 7 billion proposal has N203, 752,432 allocated to refreshment and meals, N107, 412,768 for honorarium and sitting allowance while N37, 277, 825 was meant for publicity and advertisement.
Medical expenses was allocated the sum of N50, 308,546, welfare packages N195, 066,223, Postage and courier services N10, 035,583, sporting activities N32,910,730, while subscription to professional bodies will gulp N4,589,793. Summit/ extra ordinary sessions, including the United Nations, African Union, ECOWAS, and others, will consume N228, 112,862, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), IT, LOCUM, houseman ship and contract staff allowances were estimated at N144, 788,555.
Overtime is to cost N250, 455,589 while animals feeding and supplements for the veterinary clinic will cost N30, 584,144.
Senator Isa Galaudu, a member of the committee who described the amount as outrageous, noted that the country’s one year budget is what South Africa spends in five years.
Ogbile while arguing that the proposed amount is still not enough 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,'' he said, “The experience I have had is that this fund is grossly insufficient. It’s not even enough. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) holds every Wednesday and we take care of them through this budget.”
The permanent secretary listed other expenses contained 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.
Senator Dahiru Kuta, the Committee Chairman however, revealed that the Merit Award has its own budget.
Ogbile further explained that following the lengthy list of functions and activities under the Presidency, the sum of N1.305 billion will not be enough.
“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,” he said.
Kuta said the committee would consider the proposal on its merit.