Senate Queries N3.305bn Aso Rock’s Welfare, Meals Budget

The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs has queried the State House and the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation over a budget of N3.305bn in their estimates designated for welfare package, meals, repatriation allowances and sitting allowances. Appearing before the committee separately on Tuesday, the agencies failed to convince the committee on the rationale for the large amounts budgeted for the items.

While the State House voted N1.305bn for the items, the Office of the SGF voted about N2bn for similar items in the budget.

Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbile, however, stunned members of the committee when he said the N1.305bn budgeted for refreshment and meals and other miscellaneous expenses for the 2013 fiscal year was not enough.

The total budget for the State House for the 2013 fiscal year is N14.715bn and the State House officials were present to defend it.

A breakdown of the Miscellaneous sub-head in Aso Rock’s budget shows that N203.75m is allocated for refreshment and meals, N107.4m for honorarium and sitting allowances while publicity and advertisement will cost N37.3m.

It also includes medical expenses, N50.3m; Postage and courier services, N10m; welfare packages, N195m; subscription to professional bodies, N4.58m; and sporting activities, N32.91m.

The breakdown also include overtime, N250.45m; feeding of animals including animal supplements for the veterinary clinic, N30.58m; Summit/Extra ordinary sessions including the UN, African Union, ECOWAS, etc, N228.11m; and NYSC, IT, LOCUM, housemanship and contract staff allowance, N144.78m.

Senator Isa Galaudu, a member of the committee had raised the observation that the State House was spending too much for the items listed and wondered why it was so.

He noted that what Nigeria spent in one year was what South Africa spent in five years, demanding that the Permanent Secretary should give proper explanations for the allocations.

Ogbile 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. The experience I have had is that this fund is grossly insufficient. It’s not even enough.”

He also explained that out of the N1.305bn, “the Federal Executive Council, holds every Wednesday and we take care of them through this budget.”

According to him, other expenses that are taken care of in the refreshment and meals vote include National Economic Council, Council of States, conferences in the Banquet Hall, Presidential retreats, National Merit Award, Children’s Day, hosting of dignitaries.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, faulted Ogbile’s claims on the grounds that the Merit Award had its own budget for such ceremony .

The committee also found outrageous, the votes of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for welfare packages, sitting allowance and repatriation allowances.

Source: Punch