From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja
State House Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbile shocked senators yesterday when he said N1, 305, 292, 050 budgeted for refreshment, meals and other miscellaneous expenses for the 2013 fiscal year was ‘grossly insufficient’. Ogbile said this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to defend the N14, 715, 566,104 budget for next year.
The permanent secretary told the committee that capital expenditure for the new year would gulp N5.569 billion while N7.522 billion was budgeted for overhead costs and the remaining N1.622 billion for personnel. A breakdown of the miscellaneous sub-head in Aso Rock’s budget shows that N203,752,432 was allocated for refreshment and meals, N107,412,768 would take care of honorarium and sitting allowance while publicity and advertisement would gulp N37,277,825.
Other details are: Medical expenses (N50, 308,546); Postage and courier services (N10,035,583); Welfare packages (N195,066,223); Subscription to professional bodies (N4,589,793) and Sporting activities (N32,910,730). The list is also made up of: Overtime (N250,455,589); Feeding of animals including animal supplements for the veterinary clinic (N30,584,144); Summit/ Extra ordinary sessions including the UN, African Union, ECOWAS, etc (N228,112,862) and NYSC, IT, LOCUM, housemanship and contract staff allowance (N144,788,555).
This amount, Ogbile contended was not enough in response to observation by a member of the committee, Senator Isa Galaudu, who noted that Nigeria’s budget in one year was what South Africa spent in five years. Ogbile said: “I have taken pains to explain that this money is not just to fund the residence of the president and that of the vice president.
The experience I have had is that this fund is grossly insufficient. “It’s not even enough.” He also explained that out of the N1.305 billion, “the Federal Executive Council (FEC) holds every Wednesday and we take care of them through this budget.” Ogbile then reeled out some other expenses that were taken care of in the refreshment and meals vote to include National Economic Council (NEC), Council of States, conferences in the Banquet Hall, Presidential retreats, National Merit Award, Children’s Day, hosting of dignitaries.
At this point, committee chairman, Dahiru Awaisu Kuta countered that the Merit Award had its own budget for such ceremony and Ogbile had to proffer another round of explanations. He said dignitaries who attended the National Merit Award ceremony and followed the President back to Aso Rock would also need to be entertained. Although N1,715, 619, 299 was listed as vote for the Office of the Vice President, no details were given in the document submitted to the committee.
See what our men are doing.
The man is saving his ass if u dnt serve senators well they will complain.
Some Govt officials need to be SHOT, Did this fool think he was talking to monkeys ?
the Senate under David Mark and House under Tambarawal has been the most disciplined and focused so Far, am not saying they are saints but the Nation at heart had been their focus and they have tried theeir beat This Govt official need to be taken to China and shot.or dropped into a sea of unemployed youths to be disciplined.
Am sorry had to say it this way SOME THINK OUR NATION RESOURCES I THIER MONEY
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Oh my God..all this money and nigeria stil crying no money…
They must eat, drink and make merry while the rest of us must starve and die of hunger. Thats why they will do anything to cling to office including tenur elongation attempts and mass murder.
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o lord help this country,imagine the president using such money for entertainment,one of the minister says that Nigeria budget in a year is SA five year budget,still we are still dieing of poverty , o lord please save this nation from wicked leader
This is much money to run a country’s budget for a year and yet not enough for ”food and wine”in a 3rd world country NIGERIA.Demma al VAMPIRES.
No wonder the presidency wants to borrow!
That’s Nigeria for you..
Oh! My good Jesus. Nigeria
Maybe, 123trillion will be enough for GEJ. God bless Nigeria.
Maybe, 123trillion will be enough for GEJ. God bless Nigeria.
HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY JESUS PLEASE COME OOOOOOOOOOOO THIS WORLD SPOIL FINISH . DOG, BIRDS HORSES WILL CHOP CLOSE TO 40 MILLION NAIRA IN YEAR WHEN YOU PIKIN HERE NEVER CHOP MORNING FOOD. HEY HEY HEY HEY, PLEASE LET DOG AND HORSES VOTE FOR THEM IN 2015.
CAN YOU IMAGINE , OK LET THEM APPROVE 1 TRILLION FOR FOOD SO THAT HE WILL BELLE FOOL, SINCE NA FOOD WENT TO ASO ROCK TO EAT AND HE NO FIT FEED HIMSELF UNLESS WE FEED AM. GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE.
HEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY JESUS PLEASE COME OOOOOOOOOOOO THIS WORLD DON SPOIL FINISH . DOG, BIRDS HORSES WILL CHOP CLOSE TO 40 MILLION NAIRA IN YEAR WHEN YOUR PIKIN HERE NEVER CHOP MORNING FOOD. HEY HEY HEY HEY, PLEASE LET DOG AND HORSES VOTE FOR THEM IN 2015.
CAN YOU IMAGINE , OK LET THEM APPROVE 1 TRILLION FOR FOOD SO THAT HE WILL EAT BELLE FOOL, SINCE NA FOOD HE WENT TO ASO ROCK TO EAT AND HE NO FIT FEED HIMSELF UNLESS WE FEED AM. GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE.
Please can someone tell me if they have started serving “manna” in Jonathan’s government house.
our government should please look back and think about our citizens who are still recovering from the damages caused by the recent flood disaster in our states,they should be included in the budjet.
THANKS
Nigerian leaders value animals(dogs,goat etc) more than us.When d spend over N30 million on animals while 80% of its citizen live below N200,000 a yr.God save us 4m d hands of such wicked leaders
This is truly disheartening to note that feeding alone will engulf such staggering amount in a fiscal year while over 50% population of Nigeria go to bed hungry on dily basis.
May God deliver this nation!
Imagine they made budgets for animals feeding and vet care, when the masses who voted them in are starving and their health condition is deteriorating. What a messed up country. Why cant they budget N150m for all nigerians since the population of the entire country is about 150million. Dont they think?
Dis ppl make me laugh. 1 billion 2 small 4 refreshment. 30% of federal budget goes 2 house of assembly yet an average nigerian earns less than 1 dollar daily. Yet our leaders are among the top owners of private jets in the world. My advice 2 nigerians is lets stand up against this ppl even if it’s for once but it must be a collective effort
Senate n House of Reps tell us ur budget n what u take home as allowances/salaries each month.
Pots stop calling kettles black.
D executive n legistive arms of govt r d same in dis country,they r milking nigeria dry. Imagine budget 4 animals n sitting allowance 4 each fed house member.
God help us
GEJ must be a saint, this is the first time we are opportune d to know how things are down in Nigeria earth heaven (ASOROCK), thanks to good governance. south south people una no de hide things?. past ASOROCK occupants may have spent threefold of this with out the knowledge of any body outside ASO heaven. like this we can move this nation forward. wait a minute is the senator referring to our Nations budget or that of ASOROCK to that of South Africa?. Well which ever one Nigeria is the giant of Africa.
Mallam mugu print more money
I am losing my temper now, can somebody tell these thief’s to stop N1, 305, 292, 050 budgeted for refreshment not enough? you got to be kidding me.
This is how they lavish our public funds, eating drinking and don’t do anything to stop this crazy corruption and insecurity in the country. If the N1, 305, 292, 050 is not enough go and eat Malu shit.
Refreshment and they pay you millions at the end of every month, OLE 20 million naira is even more than enough if you need refreshment why don’t you go and eat shit
Dis is real ‘animal farm’ and not fiction.
God will punish all this people in government using this as a means to rob the nation. our roads are bad, the unemployment rate is high and yet these bastards can budget this much for refreshment and personel expenses.
Here comes “Nigeria” mourned by “Mark” anthony, who, though he had no hand in her death, shall receive the benefit of his dying, a place in the commonwealth.
Pls. settle this issue off-camera.
Hmmmm, it dishaerten that over 45/ of nigerians leav on 0 1 0 meal per/day. i have desided nt vote since aftr obj’s secnd tenure cuz i dont nd would nt trust them anymore only until god send person of hs of will.