SINCE the presentation of this year’s budget to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari late last year, there have been debates and musings over the expenditure spread, particularly on public officers.
Even before then, many Nigerians had wondered, without any explanations to them, what had changed in the public spending since the assumption of office of the current government considering its change mantra.
Feelers and reports since the budget presentation of the N4.45 trillion estimates, pegged on $38 per barrel of crude oil, saw an increase of N6.08 trillion from last year’s budget.
For example, the budget for Aso Rock in 2014 was N12 billion, reduced in 2015 by then President Goodluck Jonathan to N6.6 billion, but increased this year to N18 billion.
One of the items opponents of the government see as ostentatious is the N3.6 billion said to be budgeted for the purchase of BMW cars for visiting dignitaries.
About N1.75 billion has been slated for feeding in Aso Rock this year, while Jonathan was knocked hard for spending N1 billion in 2011, which was reduced to N717 million in 2013, N542 million in 2014 and N530 million last year.
Media reports say N115 million is earmarked for foodstuffs and catering materials for the President alone, and N1.4 billion for his travel this year, about N470 million more than that of Jonathan last year.
During the campaigns and even shortly on assumption of office, Jonathan was criticised for spending so much on the 10 aircraft in the Presidential Fleet, but over seven months later, nothing has changed.
Maintenance of the aircraft cost the country N3.6 billion this year, with N764 million penciled down for the construction of recreational facilities just for the President.
At the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, the change mantra is yet to sink in.
With a budget of about N115 billion, it can now contemplate the purchase of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUVs) for members, the supposed representatives of the people that have been told to tighten their belts for austere times this year.
The President would spend N1.4 billion on local and foreign travels and transportation, about N500 million more than the N9.6 million by Jonathan would have spent, if he were re-elected, judging from last year’s budget.
The total estimates for the Presidency increased from N24.4 billion to N39 billion this year.
Among others, acquisition of presidential canteen materials and kitchen equipment rose from N83.1million last year to N89 million this year.
About N189.1million is budgeted for tyres for various vehicles, including the bulletproof and plain cars in the Presidency.
The list is endless and it should be noted that figures being thrown around as authentic vary, depending on the sources and author. But they may not be too far from the truth, unless they are joggled by the National Assembly, which is unlikely.
With so many figures being bandied as the true of the budget, a media aide to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, through a text message from abroad, in response to an enquiry, cautioned: “As I told someone, newspapers have been quoting figures from various working documents, which is ridiculous.
“The Minister of Budget and Planning will be handing over the authenticated final figures to the National Assembly.
“Before he does that, any numbers to be published by you or anyone will in all probability end up as being speculative and almost certainly wrong.”
Figures in public domain, and in comparison with last year, contradict the change mantra and austere posture of the Federal Government and Buhari, something some see as worrisome.
Source: THEGUARDIAN