The Presidency, has disclosed that the All Progressives Congress-led, APC, Federal Government is to spend N94.5 million on bullet-proof tyres for President Muhammadu Buhari, despite economic recession.
The State House Permanent Secretary, Jalal A. Arabi, made this disclosure during the breakdown of the State House budget to the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.
The number of treated (bulletproof) tyres that will be bought with the N94.5 million, was however, not specified. Canteen and kitchen equipment will cost N100.8 million.
Arabi, explained that “some of the tyres being purchased are actually treated (bulletproof)”, and hence constituted the bulk of the purchase cost.
For canteen and kitchen equipment, Arabi said N100.8 million was provided for in the 2017 budget.
He added: “This amount is principally the unreleased appropriation for 2016, which was the unpaid balance in 2015 for contracts awarded and executed. The sum of N80.2 million appropriated in 2016, has up to this moment not been released, hence its rollover and inclusion in 2017.”
Arabi noted that it was important to mention that the proposal covered kitchen equipment in the main residence, the Vice President’s residence, banquet hall, State House medical centre, State House auditorium, and 22 guest houses.
The State House’s electricity bill for 2016, according to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC), was N252 million. Another outstanding liability of over N300 million for State House, Lagos facilities.
Arabi further noted, that the provision in the 2016 budget could not accommodate the outstanding liability.
He said the management of the State House was forced to install meters in 2016, to ensure proper billing “and that was what reduced the bill to a reasonable figure”.
Arabi added, that since the bills were subject of reconciliation, “we have made a modest provision of the sum of N319.6 million for 2017, to settle current and part of the outstanding bills as noted above”.
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