Senate concerned with N3.305b Aso Rock’s welfare budget - PS says Its not Enough

The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs has queried the State House and the Office of the Secretary to Government of the Federation over a budget of N3.305bn in their estimates designated for welfare package, meals, repatriation allowances and sitting allowances.

Appearing before the committee separately on Tuesday, the agencies failed to convince the committee on the rationale for the large amounts budgeted for the items.

While the State House voted N1.305bn for the items, the Office of the SGF voted about N2bn for similar items in the budget.

Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbile, however, stunned members of the committee when he said the N1.305bn budgeted for refreshment and meals and other miscellaneous expenses for the 2013 fiscal year was not enough.

The total budget for the State House for the 2013 fiscal year is N14.715bn and the State House officials were present to defend it.

A breakdown of the Miscellaneous sub-head in Aso Rock’s budget shows that N203.75m is allocated for refreshment and meals, N107.4m for honorarium and sitting allowances while publicity and advertisement will cost N37.3m.

It also includes medical expenses, N50.3m; Postage and courier services, N10m; welfare packages, N195m; subscription to professional bodies, N4.58m; and sporting activities, N32.91m.

The breakdown also include overtime, N250.45m; feeding of animals including animal supplements for the veterinary clinic, N30.58m; Summit/Extra ordinary sessions including the UN, African Union, ECOWAS, etc, N228.11m; and NYSC, IT, LOCUM, housemanship and contract staff allowance, N144.78m.

Senator Isa Galaudu, a member of the committee had raised the observation that the State House was spending too much for the items listed and wondered why it was so. http://www.punchng.com/news/senate-queries-n3-305bn-aso-rocks-welfare-meals-budget/