As the budget comes under an increasingly
intense media scrutiny, President Jonathan
has given up nearly half of the presidency’s
giant feeding bill of N1 billion, a proposal, two
years ago, that shocked Nigerians and stirred
public anger.
The feeding cost has been lowered by N494
million or 45.5 percent in the 2014 budget
proposal sent to the National Assembly by the
president.
The 2014 request, if approved by lawmakers,
will be the lowest amount of naira spent by the
State House on feeding and allied costs in two
years.
In the 2012 budget presented in late 2011 by
the president, his office and residence as well
as those of Vice President Namadi Sambo
were allocated an obscene N993 million for
refreshments, catering services and purchase
of kitchen equipment.
That year, approximately N477million was
assigned for foodstuffs and “catering materials
supplies” for the president’s office, while an
additional N293 million was to provide
“refreshment and meals” for the president’s
comfort at his home and office.
An extra N45.4 million was earmarked to buy
canteen and kitchen equipment for the
president’s household, although similar
purchases were made the previous year.
For the vice president’s office in 2012,
foodstuff, catering and materials supplies were
scheduled to cost N104 million, while cooking
gas and cooking fuel was to consume N6.2
million.
Refreshments and meals at Mr. Sambo’s office
and home were estimated at N20.8million, and
another N45.4 million was allocated for
purchase of kitchen and household equipment
at the state house headquarters.
The funds allocated to feed Aso Rock in 2012
were sufficient to pay about 1,200 of the
nation’s growing unemployed graduates a
monthly salary of N70, 000 for a year.
That revelation at the time, published by
PREMIUM TIMES, aggravated public anger and
revved up resistance to government’s plan,
within the same period, to remove petrol
subsidy, and jack up the pump price of petrol.
A terribly embarrassed presidency quickly
scrambled a review of the budget, cutting
down the proposed feeding bill by N147
million.
But in the two years that have followed, the
government has significantly lowered the
feeding bill for the first and second families
and their offices, raising the question how the
huge 2012 bill may have been utilized, since
the same purpose is now being served at a
cheaper rate.
In 2013, the presidency’s feeding was put at
N717.3 million. For 2014, the figure has been
scaled downward to N542.8 million, the new
budget shows.
In 2014, for the president’s office and
residence, food stuff and catering materials
supplies will cost N200.8 million, while
refreshment and meals will gulp N162.6
million.
Cooking gas and fuel will be purchased at N
9.4 million while a new set of canteen and
kitchen equipment-the same purchase that
has consistently occurred for years-will cost
the nation N131.8 million.
For the Vice president’s office, food stuff and
catering materials supplies will cost N23.9
million, refreshment and meals N10.8 million,
while cooking gas and fuel cost would be N3.6
million.
The figures are subject to National Assembly’s
approval.
Federal revenues have dwindled during the
past year with the government so terribly
cash-strapped that it is unable to pay
university teachers and execute key
developmental projects.
intense media scrutiny, President Jonathan
has given up nearly half of the presidency’s
giant feeding bill of N1 billion, a proposal, two
years ago, that shocked Nigerians and stirred
public anger.
The feeding cost has been lowered by N494
million or 45.5 percent in the 2014 budget
proposal sent to the National Assembly by the
president.
The 2014 request, if approved by lawmakers,
will be the lowest amount of naira spent by the
State House on feeding and allied costs in two
years.
In the 2012 budget presented in late 2011 by
the president, his office and residence as well
as those of Vice President Namadi Sambo
were allocated an obscene N993 million for
refreshments, catering services and purchase
of kitchen equipment.
That year, approximately N477million was
assigned for foodstuffs and “catering materials
supplies” for the president’s office, while an
additional N293 million was to provide
“refreshment and meals” for the president’s
comfort at his home and office.
An extra N45.4 million was earmarked to buy
canteen and kitchen equipment for the
president’s household, although similar
purchases were made the previous year.
For the vice president’s office in 2012,
foodstuff, catering and materials supplies were
scheduled to cost N104 million, while cooking
gas and cooking fuel was to consume N6.2
million.
Refreshments and meals at Mr. Sambo’s office
and home were estimated at N20.8million, and
another N45.4 million was allocated for
purchase of kitchen and household equipment
at the state house headquarters.
The funds allocated to feed Aso Rock in 2012
were sufficient to pay about 1,200 of the
nation’s growing unemployed graduates a
monthly salary of N70, 000 for a year.
That revelation at the time, published by
PREMIUM TIMES, aggravated public anger and
revved up resistance to government’s plan,
within the same period, to remove petrol
subsidy, and jack up the pump price of petrol.
A terribly embarrassed presidency quickly
scrambled a review of the budget, cutting
down the proposed feeding bill by N147
million.
But in the two years that have followed, the
government has significantly lowered the
feeding bill for the first and second families
and their offices, raising the question how the
huge 2012 bill may have been utilized, since
the same purpose is now being served at a
cheaper rate.
In 2013, the presidency’s feeding was put at
N717.3 million. For 2014, the figure has been
scaled downward to N542.8 million, the new
budget shows.
In 2014, for the president’s office and
residence, food stuff and catering materials
supplies will cost N200.8 million, while
refreshment and meals will gulp N162.6
million.
Cooking gas and fuel will be purchased at N
9.4 million while a new set of canteen and
kitchen equipment-the same purchase that
has consistently occurred for years-will cost
the nation N131.8 million.
For the Vice president’s office, food stuff and
catering materials supplies will cost N23.9
million, refreshment and meals N10.8 million,
while cooking gas and fuel cost would be N3.6
million.
The figures are subject to National Assembly’s
approval.
Federal revenues have dwindled during the
past year with the government so terribly
cash-strapped that it is unable to pay
university teachers and execute key
developmental projects.
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