President Muhammadu Buhari will spend N18.1 billion in 2016 to run the State House, Nigeria’s seat of power, an amount that is N11.5 billion more than what his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, spent in 2015.
President Muhammadu Buhari will spend N18.1 billion in 2016 to run the State House, Nigeria’s seat of power, an amount that is N11.5 billion more than what his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, spent in 2015.
The amount is also N5.9 billion more than what Mr. Jonathan spent in 2014 on the State House.
*2016 Budget for Aso Villa – N18.1bn
*2015 Budget for Aso Villa – N6.6bn
*2014 Budget for Aso Villa – N12.2bn
In 2014, Mr. Jonathan spent N12.2 billion on the State House, while in 2015, the government spent N6.6 billion for the presidential office, amid dwindling revenue occasioned by sliding oil prices.
The costs cover the State House Headquarters, the president’s office and the office of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
They also cover the budgets of the State House medical centre and the Lagos Liaison office.
One of the most outstanding State House spending in 2016 will be the purchase of BMW saloon cars at N3.63 billion. It is not clear yet what purpose the cars would serve.
The state house budget also contains a repeat of projects the Jonathan administration repeatedly allocated funds for.
An example is the purchase of computers, which has featured in budgets of previous government each year.
In 2016, the State House will spend N27. 5 million on computers, while N268.9 will finance computer software acquisition.
Aso Rock will spend N764.7 million on recreational activities.
The installation of electrical lighting and fittings, which received substantial allocations in 2014 and 2015, will gulp N618.6 million next year.
Lere Olayinka