2024 Budget: N61.29 Billion Allocations for Renovations and Vehicles in Nigerian Presidency
The recently unveiled 2024 budget has sparked intrigue with its substantial allocations of N61.29 billion for the renovation and construction of buildings, coupled with a hefty N6.82 billion earmarked for vehicle purchases within the Nigerian presidency.
Spread across various offices under the presidency, including the State House Headquarters, President’s Office, Vice President’s Office, Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Security Officer to the President, State House Medical Centre, and State House Liaison Office in Lagos, these allocations have raised eyebrows and prompted closer scrutiny.
The lion’s share of the vehicle purchase budget, standing at N6.35 billion, is designated for the State House Headquarters.
This includes N6 billion for operational vehicles and N2 billion for SUV replacements.
A detailed breakdown reveals N351.08 million set aside for bulletproof vehicle tires and other car-related expenses.
Meanwhile, renovation and construction expenses, accounting for approximately N28.18 billion, encompass substantial provisions for repairs to residential and office buildings.
While the President’s office does not specify a direct vehicle allocation, it allocates N649.83 million for building repairs and renovations.
Similarly, the Vice President’s office, lacking a direct vehicle allocation, earmarks N933.7 million for building renovations.
The Chief of Staff to the President plans to allocate N633.7 million for vehicle purchases and a significant N30 billion for building renovations.
Interestingly, potential overlaps in renovation expenses across various offices raise questions about the justification for such allocations.
The Chief Security Officer to the President, with the smallest allocation of N78.87 million, focuses solely on security and operational vehicle purchases.
The State House Liaison Office in Lagos plans to allocate N100 million for vehicle procurement and N389.32 million for building renovations and maintenance.
An analysis reveals repeated provisions for renovations, particularly in the residences of the President and Vice President, prompting concerns about frequent and high-cost renovations.
Despite substantial allocations for renovations and construction, the budget allocates minimal funds for constructing new facilities compared to renovation expenses.
The allocations for renovations, constructions, and vehicle purchases within the presidency in the proposed budget have sparked discussions on prioritisation, cost efficiency, and potential redundancies in budgetary planning.
Observers are calling for increased transparency and accountability in allocating and utilising these substantial funds.
Source: Politics Nigeria
