Despite recession, president, vice’s travels to gulp N3.2bn in 2021

Despite recession, president, vice’s travels to gulp N3.2bn in 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice,  Yemi Osinbajo are demanding ₦3.2 billion for travels in 2021. This is contained in the 2021 budget proposal

FG earmarked over N600m for non-existent economic adviser’s office for six years
Buhari earmarks N128bn for National Assembly as he presents 2021 budget
FG to spend N418m for town hall meetings, opinion polls etc

President Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice,  Yemi Osinbajo are demanding ₦3.2 billion for travels in 2021. This is contained in the 2021 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly on Thursday by Buhari.

Details of the budget were released by the Budget Office of the Federation on Friday. According to the details, Buhari wants to spend ₦2.426 billion on local and international travels in 2021. From the amount, ₦1.651 billion was budgeted for his foreign travels while ₦775.602 million has been earmarked for local trips. In the New Year, the office of the President has budgeted ₦4.135 billion for State House Operations.

Under the Vice President’s office, a total of ₦1.079 billion was budgeted for State House Operations out of which ₦801.035 million has been budgeted for local and international travels. The Vice President’s office hopes to spend ₦517.060 million on international travels, and another ₦283.974 million on local trips.

For food stuff, catering materials, refreshments and meals the offices of the President, Vice, Chief of Staff and Chief Security Officer to President are asking for ₦582,592,638. The operational hub of the Villa, the State House Headquarters was allocated ₦12.306 billion total budget with N7.728 billion budgted for capital expenditure out of which N5.244 billion would be utilized for the rehabilitation and repair of office buildings, and N436. 264 million would be used for the purchase of motor vehicles.

Wildlife conservation will gulp N51.465 million; fuel and lubricants N132.199 million (motor vehicle fuel cost, N67.950 million; Plant/generator fuel cost N 45.678 million); and sporting activities, N 30.187 million. In 2021, N350 billion has been budgeted for recurrent expenditure under Special intervention programmes.

Next year the government plans to contribute N30 billion to international organizations.

Just like in previous years, N2.3 billion has been budgeted for the payment of entitlements of former Presidents/Heads of States and Vice Presidents/Chiefs of General staff. Also in the budget, benefits of retired Heads of Service, Permanent Secretaries and Professors would gulp N4.502 billion