The Federal Government has monetised the sum of N40 million out of N210 million earmarked for the procurement of vehicles for seven former presidents and heads of state in the 2017 budget.
This is contained in the financial report submitted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Engr. Boss Mustapha, to the House of Representatives’ Committee on Governmental Affairs at a budget session yesterday.
According to the report, the N170 million balance for the procurement of the vehicles is expected to be re- leased before the expiration of 2017 capital component of the budget, which was extended to March 2018. This is even as an additional sum of N96 million has been proposed for pro- curement of vehicles in the 2018 budget estimates.
The former leaders expected to benefit from the largesse include General Yakubu Gowon, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babangida, Gen. Abubakar Abdulsalami and Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Similarly, from the total sum of N210 million proposed for procurement of vehicles for former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo, and others, the sum of N120.090 million has been released in 2017, while additional sum of N90 million was proposed in 2018 budget estimate before the National Assembly. The proposed procurements were part of the N2.492 billion and N2.492 billion capital expenditure approved for 2017 and proposed for 2018 respectively.
The lawmakers, however, queried the proposed N18.360 million for purchase of 27 laptop computers (Mac Book) in 2018; N995,190,118 for purchase of security equipment; N64 million for purchase of monitoring trucks; N316 million for purchase of motor vehicles; N124 million for 4(Nos) of 18 seated buses and 2(Nos) of 30-seater buses.
The sum of N130 million was also proposed for procurement of 2(Nos) of Land Cruiser Prado Jeeps; the sum of N65.551 million for Ambulance and Clinic equipment while the sum of N170 million was proposed for Independence/Democracy Day celebrations. While responding, Mustapha explained that the Mac Book was for Council Chamber considering the volume of work before them.
Other proposed expenditure for 2018 include: N1.734 billion for political officers and standing committee; N760.277 million honorarium and sitting allowance; N133.421 million for welfare packages; N88.65 million for purchase of office furniture and fittings; N18.36 million for purchase of computers and N456.64 million for computer software acquisition while N106.834 is for cleaning & fumigation services for the SGF headquarters.
The sum of N116.64 million for support/maintenance of e-council document management; N60 million for upgrade and turn around maintenance of council chambers conference system; N30 million for radio frequency identification device system (RFIC); N35 million for expansion of local area network/OSGF website upgrade and N40 million for socio-economic impact studies challenges/solutions.
Similarly, the 2017 budget document showed that out of the total sum of N55 million proposed for upgrading and turn around maintenance of Council Chambers System, the sum of N54,400,500 has been released, leaving the balance of N599,500 only (98.91%).
From the sum of N35 million proposed for 1 Xerox D125 Heavy Duty Photocopy Machine to enhance timely production of Council memoranda, the sum of N34,938,750 was released (99.83%), leaving a balance of N61,250 only.
Also, out of the total sum of N20.800 million proposed for the 52(Nos) of Mac Book procured in 2017, the sum of N20.790 million (99.52%) has been released, while from the total sum of N170 million proposed for Independence/Democracy Day celebration, the sum of N138 million was released.
The sum of N116.64 million for support/maintenance of e-Council document management; N60 million for upgrade and turn around maintenance of Council Chambers Conference system; N30 million for radio frequency identification device system (RFIC); N35 million for expansion of local area network/OSGF website upgrade and N40 million for socio-economic impact studies challenges/solutions.
However, the 2017 budget document showed that out of the total sum of N55 million proposed for upgrading and turn around maintenance of Council Chambers System, the sum of N54,400,500 has been released, leaving the balance of N599,500 only (98.91%).
