The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has debunked claims that 21 billion naira was allocated for his accommodation in the 2024 budget estimates.
The report claimed that N104 million was proposed for purchasing computers and printers, N579 million for ‘local travel and transport for international training’ for his office, and miscellaneous' is expected to gulp N103 million.
But in a post on his official X handle, Gbajabiamila said there was no provision in the 2024 Appropriation Bill for renovating his residence, noting that he lives in his private apartment.
According to Gbajabiamila, the amount quoted online was for renovating the Presidential Quarters in Dodan Barracks and the Vice President’s Lodge in Lagos.
He also noted that the renovation includes overhauling the information management and communications facilities in the Presidency to meet modern standards and provide vehicles for the staff of the Presidency.
An analysis of the N27.7 trillion budget also shows that the State House headquarters will get N40.61 billion, State House Operations (President) N9.1 billion, and State House Operations (Vice President) N3.14 billion.
Also, the presidency will get N272 billion, comprising N176.92 billion as personnel costs, N34.22 billion as overhead costs, and N60.53 billion as capital expenditure.
This is an 83.59 percent increase from the N148.16 billion budgeted for the presidency in 2023.
Nigerians reacted to the budget on our breakfast program, The Big Story.
