FG approves N280m car allowances for Jonathan, Obasanjo, IBB, four other ex-Nigerian leaders

The Federal Government has approved the payment of N40 million each as car allowances for former Presidents Goodluck Jonathan, Olusegun Obasanjo, Shehu Shagari, Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, Abubakar Abdulsalam and Chief Ernest Shonekan.

The money is part of a proposed N280 million for vehicle procurement, documents from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation have shown.

The allocation, which was meant for the 2017 fiscal year, was in the documents showing procurements totaling N2.492 billion in the 2017 capital expenditure and earmarked for seven former Presidents and Heads of State.

For this year, N2.492 billion capital expenditure is proposed, according to the report submitted  by the SGF during the 2017/2018 budget defence session held by the Hon. Husseini Suleiman Kanagiwa-headed House Committee on Governmental Affairs.

The N240 million balance for the procurement of vehicles remains outstanding and is meant to be cash-backed before the budget year runs out in March. An additional  N96 million is proposed for procurement of vehicles in the 2018 budget estimates.

About N120 million was proposed for purchase of vehicles for former Vice Presidents Atiku Abubakar, Namadi Sambo and the late Alex Ekwueme and had been released in 2017.

Mustapha also told the lawmakers that N65 million was earmarked for building a website in the 2018 estimates.

The committee members were not happy with some aspects of the presentation, especially the proposed N18.360 million for purchase of 27 laptop computer (Mac Book) in 2018; N,995,190,118 for purchase of security equipment.

Also, the N64 million for purchase of monitoring trucks also got a knock, as well as the N316 million for purchase of motor vehicles; N124 million for four of 18-seater buses and two 30-seater buses.

Estimates in the document show that N130 million was also proposed for procurement of two Land Cruiser Prado Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs); N65.551 million for ambulance and clinic equipment while N170 million was proposed for Independence/Democracy Day celebrations same as in 2017.

The SGF told the lawmakers that the Mac Book computers were meant for Council Chamber because of the high volume of work they do.

Other proposed expenditures for 2018 include: N1.734 billion for political officers and standing committee; N760.277 million honorarium and sitting allowance; N133.421 million for welfare packages.

Similarly, N88.65 million is for the purchase of office furniture and fittings; N18.36 million for purchase of computers and N456.64 million for computer software acquisition while N106.834 is for cleaning & fumigation services for the SGF headquarters.

N116.64 million is meant for support/maintenance of e-Council document management; N60 million for upgrade and turn around maintenance of Council Chambers Conference system; N30 million radio frequency identification device system (RFIC); N35 million for expansion of local area network/OSGF website upgrade and N40 million for socio-economic impact studies challenges/solutions.

However, the 2017 budget document showed that out of the total sum of N20.800 million proposed for the 52No of Mac Book procured in 2017, the sum of N20.790 million (99.52%) has been released while from the total sum of N170 million proposed for Independence/Democracy Day celebration, the sum of N138 million was released.

From the sum of N35 million proposed for 1 Xerox D125 Heavy Duty Photocopy Machine to enhance timely production of Council memoranda, the sum of N34,938,750 was released (99.83%) leaving a balance of N61,250 only.

Also, out of the total sum of N55 million proposed for upgrading and turn around maintenance of Council Chambers System, the sum of N54,400,500 has been released leaving the balance of N599,500 only (98.91%).