2024 Budget: Presidency to spend N61.29 billion on renovating buildings

The proposed 2024 budget has revealed staggering allocations of N61.29 billion for renovation and construction of buildings, along with N6.82 billion earmarked for vehicle purchases by the Nigerian presidency. 

The allocations span various offices under the presidency, including the State House Headquarters, President’s Office, Vice President’s Office, Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Security Officer to the President, State House Medical Centre, and State House Liaison Office in Lagos.

The lion’s share of vehicle purchases, totalling N6.35 billion, is allocated to the State House Headquarters. This includes N6 billion for operational vehicles and N2 billion for SUV replacements. 

Additionally, N351.08 million is budgeted for bulletproof vehicle tires and car-related expenses. Renovation and construction expenses amount to approximately N28.18 billion, with significant portions allocated to residential and office building repairs.

While no direct vehicle allocation is mentioned for the President’s office, N649.83 million is budgeted for building repairs and renovations. Similarly, the Vice President’s office lacks a direct vehicle allocation but has provisions for building renovations totalling N933.7 million.

Chief of Staff to the President:

The office allocates N633.7 million for vehicle purchases and a substantial N30 billion for building renovations. Notably, significant overlaps in renovation expenses across different offices raise questions about allocation justification.

Chief Security Officer to the President:

This office has the smallest allocation, with N78.87 million earmarked for security and operational vehicle purchases.

No vehicle allocation is made, with the focus solely on building repairs and construction, amounting to approximately N1.13 billion.

State House Liaison Office in Lagos:

The office plans to allocate N100 million for vehicle procurement and N389.32 million for building renovations and maintenance, including repairs to office and residential buildings.

An analysis by Nairametrics indicates repeated provisions for renovations, especially in the residences of the President and Vice President, raising concerns about frequent and high-cost renovations. 

Notably, while a substantial amount is allocated to renovation and construction, particularly in presidential quarters, the expenditure on constructing new facilities remains minimal compared to renovation expenses.

The allocations for vehicle purchases across different offices also warrant scrutiny, with overlapping figures suggesting potential discrepancies or arbitrary budget placements.

The proposed budget’s significant allocations for renovations, constructions, and vehicle purchases within the presidency have drawn attention, prompting questions about prioritisation, cost efficiency, and potential redundancies in budgetary planning. 

Observers call for increased transparency and accountability regarding allocating and utilising these substantial funds.

The article was originally published on Politics Nigeria.