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Tinubu proposes over 1,000% budget rise for computer software for presidency

THE presidency plans to spend about N11.1 billion on computer software acquisition next year, as shown in the Federal Government’s 2024 budget proposal.

The ICIR reports that the budget proposal for this item is a sharp rise from the N926.1 million approved by the National Assembly for the same item for the presidency in the 2023 budget.

However, the quantity of the item to be procured was not stated in either year.

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20242023
N11.1 billionN926.1 million

Justapoxing the budgets for both years shows that in 2024, the presidency seeks a budget 11 times more than it got for computer software in 2023.

That is, the 2024 proposed budget of N11.1 billion for computer software for the presidency is 1,107 per cent more than what the National Assembly approved in 2023.

The Budget Office of the Federation released the proposed 2024 budget details days after President Bola Tinubu presented the appropriation bill to the joint session of the National Assembly, 

Some MDAs under the presidency include the State House, Bureau of Public Procurement, ICPC, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, and Office of the Accountant-General.

The ICIR reports that the Federal Executive Council (FEC), on Monday, November 27, approved N27.5 trillion as the Federal Government’s aggregate expenditure for 2024.

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The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, who spoke to journalists after the meeting presided over by Tinubu, said the targeted revenue for 2024 was N18 trillion.

On Wednesday, November 29, Tinubu presented a proposed budget of N27.5 trillion to the National Assembly.

The budget presentation requested budgetary approval of a total spending plan that included 1.78 million barrels of crude oil per day, a borrowing plan of N7.8 trillion, and an exchange rate of N700 to the U.S. dollar.

The N27 trillion budget proposal was themed, ‘Budget of Renewed Hope’.

At the presentation, Tinubu listed the budget’s objectives to include:

  • Reducing poverty,
  • Improving human capital development,
  • Macroeconomic stability,
  • Job-rich economic growth, and
  • Increased access to social security.

The ICIR reported on Wednesday, December 6, that Tinubu’s Chief of Staff (CoS), Femi Gbajabiamila, refuted the claim that he would spend N10 billion from the proposed budget on his official residence.

The response followed reports by some media platforms on the amount budgeted to refurbish the CoS’ residence and purchase software computers in his office, amounting to N21 billion.

Although Gbajabiamila failed to justify or explain the quality of computer software that would consume over N10 billion, he said the N10 billion allocated for rehabilitating fixed assets was for repairing the presidential lodge and the vice presidential quarters.

A review of the proposed budget by The ICIR showed that the CoS office would spend N21 billion, with the renovation of fixed assets and computer software acquisition amounting to over N10 billion each.

The breakdown of the N10 billion earmarked for the renovation of the fixed assets showed that N5 billion was budgeted to repair the Dodan Barracks presidential lodge and the vice presidential quarters.

The purchase of fixed assets, such as computers, printers, vehicles, refreshments, and office stationery, among other expenditures, takes up the remaining amount.




     

     

    The CoS further stressed that Tinubu’s administration encouraged constructive scrutiny of government expenditure.

    Meanwhile, the N10 billion allocated in the proposed 2024 national budget was aside from the previously allocated N15 billion for a ‘befitting residence’ for the Vice President by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike. 

    The ICIR reports that capital projects across Nigeria would suffer more as the Federal Government projected 45 per cent of its N18.3 trillion expected revenue in 2024 to service debts.

    The 2024 budget proposes non-debt recurrent expenditure of N9.92 trillion naira, while debt service is projected to be N8.25 trillion naira and capital expenditure is N8.7 trillion.

    Bankole Abe
    Reporter at ICIR | [email protected] | Author Page

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