The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr Jalal Arabi, during the defence of the Presidential Villa’s 2017 budget before the Senate Committee disclosed that N94.5 million has been proposed for the purchase of treated (bullet-proof) tyres in 2017.
Arabi said the budget cut in 2016, from N16.5 billion to N13. 5 billion, in 2017, represents 18.08 percent reduction in comparison with the sum appropriated last year.
Arabi, while defending the 2017 State House budget proposal before lawmakers, told the committee that despite its decision to cut down on this year’s annual total budget, an increase was, however, made, particularly, for routine maintenance of villa facilities, electricity charges and overhead expenditures.
He explained that some factors such as exchange rate and inflationary trends were responsible for the increase in the items contained in this year’s proposal.
“Chairman, may I kindly recall that during our 2016 budget defence before this distinguished committee, I noted that the figure of N3.9 billion provided for maintenance of villa facilities was based on actual commitment in 2015. Sadly, due to the prevailing circumstances, the dynamics changed, even while presenting the 2016 proposals.
“In 2017, we have considered some of these factors, including exchange rate and inflationary trends, and humbly proposed a modest provision of N4.9 billion for same services and beyond.”
Giving reasons behind the increase in funding for electricity payment, Arabi explained that N45.3 million which was approved in 2016 budget, was increased to N319.6 million in 2017 to cover current and outstanding bills which the insufficient sum appropriated in 2016 budget failed to cover.