Senate Queries The Presidency Over N1.3 billion Budget For Food

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The Senate, yesterday queried the Presidency over N1.3 billion budgeted for food stuffs and refreshment, including the purchase of computers and furniture, describing it as outrageous. Out of N1.3billion, N293 million was set aside for refreshment, N500 million for food stuffs, N265 million for computers and N295 million for furniture for no specific office.
A member of the committee, Senator Isa Galadu, said, “the huge allocation for foodstuffs in a country where 70 per cent lives below a dollar per day and 90 per cent below two dollars per day is outright outrageous. I do not understand why you have allocated N293 million for refreshment, apart from the foodstuffs allocation.”

The chairman of the committee, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta also asked why the State House planned to spend N295 million on furniture for an unspecified residence.

“The purchase of residential furniture for N295 million, is it for the residence of Mr President? You also have N265 million for computers. You bought computers last year. Do you still want to buy computers this year again?” he queried.

In his response to all the queries, the permanent secretary, State House, Dr. Funmi Olaopa said that the State House is a huge bureaucracy on its own and it is a meeting point for a huge array of critical stakeholders, both local and international.

“There are lots of standing committees, visiting presidents, diplomats, people from the Diaspora, captains of industries and a lot of banquets are held and these are service- based. Moreso, we now run democracy unlike the military. Now, we necessarily have to expand in order to run an inclusive government."