PDP backs N4bn budget for First Ladies’ Mission

The Peoples Democratic Party on Tuesday defended the N4bn allocation to the building of First Ladies Mission office complex in Abuja as contained in the 2013 budget of the Federal Capital Territory. The FCT Administration total budget for the year is N253bn.

The PDP defence was contained in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh. The party said the condemnation of the project by the opposition political parties had been unjustified.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, All Nigeria Peoples Party and the Congress for Progressive Change had all condemned the budget, which they described as fraudulent.

The opposition parties said it was wrong for the government to spend money on a non-governmental organisation like the association first ladies, which they claimed would not be beneficial to the citizens of the country.

But Metuh said in the statement said the building, when completed, would not be owned by the wife of President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience.

He said, “Contrary to the odious and deliberate distortion of facts by the opposition, the building is not for the Nigerian First Lady.

“The complex on completion is to host the AFLPM which has the backing of the African Union as an instrument for championing the cause of women and youth development.

 “The Peace Mission House is a public institution, a building in the likes of the Women Development Centre, Nigerian Cultural Centre, among others, which the law empowers the FCTA to build and operate in provision of facilities for the advancement of its development efforts. It will go a long way in reducing the financial burden in rents for international bodies being hosted by the country.”

The PDP spokesman also defended the increment of budget for the official residence of Vice-President Namadi Sambo.

“The increment in the budget of the official residence of the Vice President was occasioned by the changes in the redesigning, expertly advised to take care of emerging security challenges. The house is not for the exclusive benefit of the current Vice Present as the malicious propaganda of the opposition has been feeding the public with,” he said.

-- Punch