The State House’s permanent secretary, Tijjani Umar, says that the N21.1 billion budget request for 2023 is N19.01 billion less than the N40.1 billion budgeted for that year.
This information was made public by Umar on Thursday in Abuja when he appeared with other members of the State House’s top management team to defend the 2023 budget recommendations before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs.
The Permanent Secretary said in his report, which also included information about the performance of the 2022 budget, that there had been a little decrease in personnel costs because 40 employees were expected to leave in 2023.
He claims that, with the exception of slight increases in the Office of the President, Vice President, and Chief of Staff to the President, the recurrent expenditure levels in the major cost centres have been maintained.
Regarding the State House’s capital budget for 2023, Umar listed the annual routine upkeep of the buildings at the Presidential Villa in Abuja and the State House Complex in Lagos as two of the key areas of expenditure.
Along with the State House Clinic and the envisaged National Centre for Coordination for Early Warning and Response Mechanism (NCCRM) under the office of the Vice President for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE), it also covers the acquisition of functional motor vehicles.
The President’s and Vice President’s houses, offices, the State House Auditorium, State House Gymnasium, and the Presidential Banquet Hall are just a few examples of the facilities in Abuja and Lagos.
The State House Conference Center, Presidential and Ministerial Airport Chalets, and Airport Lounge in Abuja, as well as State House and the Dodan Barracks Complex in Lagos, are additional facilities.
Umar stated that while the commitment to these facilities consumes 65% of the overall appropriation, N7.20 billion had been recommended for the year 2023 as opposed to N7.76 billion in 2022 in order to maintain them in the best possible operational condition.
‘‘Closely following this, is the dire and urgent need for the complete replacement and upgrading of the communication/telephony system and electronic visitors record management in the Presidential Villa,’’ he said.
He continued by saying that N150 million had been suggested for the 2023 completion of the communications infrastructure.
The permanent secretary informed the Committee that the facilities and buildings in the Lagos Liaison Office Complex and Guest Houses are “old and require not only upkeep, but repair and renewal.”
Therefore, he raised worry that the N59 million budgeted for State House Lagos Complex and Guest Houses maintenance was insufficient.
He stated that it would cost approximately N644 million to upgrade the facilities.
Umar stated that N1.96 billion had been suggested under the phased replacement of vehicles in the Presidential Ground Fleet and those in the Conference Coordination Unit (CCU) regarding the acquisition of operating motor vehicles and following consultations with the Budget Office of the Federation.
‘‘It is noteworthy that most of the vehicles being proposed for replacement were procured more than 10 years ago and have since exceeded their useful economic lives.
‘‘This has resulted in frequent breakdowns and an unsustainable expenditure on repairs/replacements of parts,’’ he said.
He insisted that the N800 million released was insufficient to purchase the necessary number of vehicles that needed to be replaced, in part because some of them are expensive and treated.
Umar thanked the Committee members on behalf of State House Clinic for their assistance in launching the Presidential/VIP Wing of State House Clinic.
He expressed his happiness that the project, which had been launched on November 1, 2021, was almost finished.
“This level of progress was attained given the full support of Mr President and the assistance of key stakeholders especially this distinguished Committee which has appropriated funds needed with the backing of and support of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning,” he added.
He claims that the 80 percent finished project will be finished by the end of December 2022, at the latest during the first quarter of 2023.
Before calling the hearing to a close, Sen. Abba Moro, the Committee’s chairman, said the following: ‘‘I am not unmindful that the State House is the hub of the government and everything radiates from there.
“We would do the needful and if there is a need for us to see you again, we will invite you.
“But so far with what has been discussed and presented to us, we will be able to do the needful to the satisfaction of all.’’
