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| President Muhammadu Buhari |
Tijjani Umar, the State House's permanent secretary, criticised the N59 million set aside for the State House complex and guest homes in Lagos and said that the State House's proposed 2023 budget of N21.1 billion was N19.01 billion less than the 2022 appropriation of N40.1 billion.
This information was made public by Mr. Umar on Thursday in Abuja when he appeared with other members of the State House's top management team to defend the 2023 budget recommendations before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The permanent secretary indicated in his submission that the anticipated retirement of 40 employees in 2023 will result in a little decrease in personnel costs, which also included information about the performance of the 2022 budget.
According to him, the recurrent expenditure levels in the various cost centres have been maintained except for marginal increases in the Office of the President, Vice President and the Chief of Staff to the President.
On capital expenditure for 2023, Mr Umar explained that the major areas of expenditure in the State House under capital appropriation include the annual routine maintenance of the facilities in the Presidential Villa, Abuja and the State House Complex, Lagos.
It also includes the purchase of operational motor vehicles, the State House Clinic and the proposed National Centre for Coordination for Early Warning and Response Mechanism (NCCRM) in the office of the Vice President for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE).
The facilities in Abuja and Lagos include but are not limited to buildings and infrastructure in the President’s and Vice President’s residences, Offices, State House Auditorium, State House Gymnasium and Presidential Banquet Hall.
Others are Council Chamber, State House Conference Centre, Presidential and Ministerial Airport Chalets and Airport Lounge in Abuja, and State House, Dodan Barracks Complex in Lagos.
While noting that commitment to these facilities takes 65 per cent of the total appropriation, Umar disclosed that to keep them in optimal condition, N7.20 billion had been proposed for 2023 against N7.76 billion in 2022.
‘‘Closely following this is the dire and urgent need for the complete replacement and upgrading of the communication/telephony system and electronic visitors record management in the Presidential Villa,’’ he said.
He added that N150 million had been proposed to complete the telecommunications infrastructure in 2023.
On the facilities and buildings in the Lagos Liaison Office Complex and Guest Houses, the permanent secretary told the Committee that ‘‘they are old and require not only maintenance but renovation and renewal.’’
He expressed concern that the provision of N59 million for maintaining the State House Lagos complex and guest houses was inadequate, stressing that about N644 million would be required to upgrade the facilities.
On purchasing operational motor vehicles and following discussions with the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr Umar said N1.96 billion was proposed under the phased replacement of vehicles in the Presidential Ground Fleet and those in the Conference Coordination Unit (CCU).
‘‘It is noteworthy that most of the vehicles being proposed for replacement were procured more than 10 years ago and have since exceeded their useful economic lives. ‘This has resulted in frequent breakdowns and an unsustainable expenditure on repairs/replacements of parts,’’ the perm sec added.
He maintained that the released amount of N800 million was inadequate to procure the required numbers that need to be replaced.
(NAN)