Aso Rock to spend N18.4bn on fuel, lubricants in 2012

THE Presidential Villa, otherwise known as Aso Rock, will spend about N18.36 billion this year for fuel and lubricants

The Permanent Secretary in the State House, Dr. Tunji Olaopa, disclosed this on Monday during the 2012 budget defence before the Senator Dahiru Kuta-led Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs.

According to him, the State House would spend N993.02 million to fuel vehicles, while the office of the vice president will spend N35.363 million to fuel vehicles, N20.802 million to fuel generators and N6.240 million for cooking gas and fuel.

Also, N237, 370,200 will be spent by the State House headquarters. Of this figure, the office of the president will spend N168.722 million for fuel and lubricants, while N68, 647,329 will be spent on lubricants by the vice president.

The villa is also expected to spend N75, 131,589 on plants and generators for both the president and that of the vice president. While the headquarters will be spending N54, 329,366, the vice president will spend N20, 802,589 on fuelling of generators alone.

The presidency, in the budget for the year, would spend N577.543 million to replace aged vehicles in the presidential fleet, while N15, 215, 500 has been earmarked for maintenance of plants and generators, N137, 827,111 for the maintenance of office/IT equipment, N382, 317,777 for maintenance of motor vehicle/transport equipment and N122, 466,733 for other maintenance services.

For the vice president, maintenance of motor vehicles/transport equipment will gulp N83, 208,883; N10, 401,110 will be spent on maintenance of plants/generators and N20, 802,221, billed for other maintenance services.

Read More...

Senate query presidency over N1.3b budget for food & Refreshment

The Senate, yesterday queried the Presidency over N1.3 billion budgeted for food stuffs and refreshment, including the purchase of computers and furniture, describing it as outrageous.

Out of N1.3billion, N293 million was set aside for refreshment, N500 million for food stuffs, N265 million for computers and N295 million for furniture for no specific office.

A member of the committee, Senator Isa Galadu, said, “the huge allocation for foodstuffs in a country where 70 per cent lives below a dollar per day and 90 per cent below two dollars per day is outright outrageous. I do not understand why you have allocated N293 million for refreshment, apart from the foodstuffs allocation.”

The chairman of the committee, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta also asked why the State House planned to spend N295 million on furniture for an unspecified residence.

“The purchase of residential furniture for N295 million, is it for the residence of Mr President? You also have N265 million for computers. You bought computers last year. Do you still want to buy computers this year again?” he queried.

In his response to all the queries, the permanent secretary, State House, Dr. Funmi Olaopa said that the State House is a huge bureaucracy on its own and it is a meeting point for a huge array of critical stakeholders, both local and international.

“There are lots of standing committees, visiting presidents, diplomats, people from the Diaspora, captains of industries and a lot of banquets are held and these are service- based. Moreso, we now run democracy unlike the military. Now, we necessarily have to expand in order to run an inclusive government."

WOW...WHAT A JOKE.

Read More...

Corruption in High places- Breakdown Of President & VP Expenses for 2012

Taxpayers will spend a fortune feeding the president and his deputy in 2012

The president and his deputy will together enjoy N992.57 million worth of food and general catering services in 2012

The taxpayers, most of which are poor and frustrated, will have to fork out an additional N293 million to provide “refreshment and meals” for the president’s comfort at his home and office.

• N45.4 million would be needed to buy canteen and “kitchen equipment” for the president’s household

• For the vice president’s office, the foodstuff, catering and materials supplies are to cost N104 million, while cooking gas and cooking fuel will consume N6.2 million.

• Refreshments and meals at Mr. Sambo’s office and home are estimated at N20.8million.

• N45.4 million has been allocated for purchase of kitchen and household equipment at the state house headquarters.

• FG budgets N16.6million as rent for VP’s residence

• presidency would spend another N230.133million on the acquisition, upgrading and furnishing of the VP’s official guest house.

• Over N1.06billion, comprising N500million for the construction and furnishing of the extension of the same VP lounge, and another N560million for the construction of official quarters for the VP’s director of protocol (DOP), aide de camp (ADC) and security chief, was provided for in the 2011 budget for the same Aguda house.

• About N957.098million has equally been set aside to take care of miscellaneous expenses.

• N293.69m for refreshment and meals.

• N173.75million for honorarium and sitting allowance.

• N77.56million for publicity and advertisements

• N84.3million for medical expenses.

• N14.06million for postages and courier services.

• N285.14million as well as welfare packages.

• Another sum of N116.733million has been provided in this year’s budget for installation of universal power system (UPS) facilities at the VP’s residence, while about N108million has been budgeted for the provision of communication equipment at the VP’s guest house along with the presidential villa and Dodan Barracks, Marina.

• Other expenses to be incurred by the VP during the year include N20.80million for plant/generator fuel cost, and N10.40million for maintenance of plants/generators, as against N54.33million and N15.216million respectively by the president.
• The Presidency is to spend about N203.88million for the construction/provision of electricity at the villa during the year, in addition to about N85.21million electricity charges and another N168.72million provided in the budget for fuel and general lubricants.

• Extension of power supply to the state house central store is to gulp N35.9million; extension of UPS power source to presidential guest house No. 7 at the Villa for N57.43million; overhauling of two power house generator sets for N127.5million as well as the rehabilitation of villa transformer sub-station for N101.67million.

• The presidency is expected to pay for its subscription to professional bodies with about N7.092million provided in the budget for the purpose, while about N21.485million will cater for its sporting activities
• The provision for general utilities include N56.48million for telephone charges; N42.94million for water rates and N80.8million for leased communication lines(s).

At N70,000 a month, the N1billion budgeted for presidential feeding would pay the wages of 1,200 Nigerians for a year.
Is this the man we voted to represent the poor people's interest? If he is surrounded by so much wealth,how can he understand the plight of  the poor people who barely feeds on 2 dollar per day.

Read More...