The State House, widely known as Ash Rock, will spend N7.2 billion for the routine maintenance of facilities at the Presidential Villa out of a total of N21.137 billion budgetary proposals for 2023 fiscal year.
The State House, according to the Budget, has also earmarked N1.96 billion for vehicle purchase in the fiscal year.
There is also N644 million for maintenance of State House, Lagos Complex and Guest Houses.
Presenting the budget before the lawmakers on Thursday before the Senate Committee on Federal Character on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar, told the lawmakers that the budget proposals and projections were inadequate to cater for the need of the State House.
According to him, the total budget size of N21.137 billion for State House in 2023 is N19.010 billion less, when compared to the N40.148 billion appropriated for it in the 2022 fiscal year.
The N7.20 billion earmarked for maintenance of Villa facilities, Umar explained, formed the critical component of the Capital Expenditure segment of the proposed budget
He said: “The facilities under this heading include but are not limited to electrical/mechanical installations, buildings and infrastructures in the President’s and Vice President’s residences, offices, State House Auditorium, Presidential and Ministerial Airport Chalets, etc
“These commitment usually takes about 65 per cent of the total appropriation of the State House.
“In order to keep the facilities in optimal working condition, the sum of N7.20 billion has been proposed for year 2023 against the sum of N7.76 billion in 2022.”
Umar added that 2023, being an election year, the sum of N1.96 billion earmarked for vehicle purchase was inadequate just as provision of N59 million for maintenance of State House Lagos Complex and Guest Houses is grossly inadequate.
He said: “The provision of N59 million for maintenance of State House Lagos Complex and Guest Houses is inadequate, requiring an estimated sum of N644 million for upgrade of the facilities.
“It is also instructive to note that the provision of N1.96 billion in the 2023 proposal for vehicle purchase would still be inadequate to meet existing requirements, 2023 being an election year, which entails frequent travels with associated costs as well as the replacement of vehicles by incoming administration.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Abba Moro (PDP-Benue South), said the slash in the State House budget for 2023 fiscal year ,was not peculiar as other Ministries, Department and Agencies were also affected.
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