… Repairs State House with N2bn
The Federal government has budgeted N7 billion for the proposed national conference scheduled to hold early next year.
The confab fund is captured in the 2014 budget estimates under the heading “National Dialogue.”
The budget details show that another N4billion is earmarked for “Hosting of World Economic Forum (WEF).” Nigeria got the hosting right of the World Economic Forum after South Africa did last year.
The convocation of the national conference has continued to draw criticisms from several interests groups, who describe the planned event as waste of resources and diversionary tactics by the government from critical issues affecting the country.
But President Goodluck Jonathan said last week shortly after receiving the report of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the National Dialogue that the conference would hold early next year.
The Senator Femi Okurounmu-led committee was saddled with the responsibility of designing a framework for the conference.
Also, the federal government has set aside a sum of N2 billion for the rehabilitation/repairs of the State House.
According to the appropriation bill, N1.650 billion will be spent on the rehabilitation/repairs of the State House office buildings, N205 million on its residential building, N50 million on its electricity and another N120 million on the defence equipment.
Further details of the budget indicate that the government has also budgeted N56.8 million for President Jonathan’s medical expenses.
As contained in the budget, Jonathan’s medical expenses of N56.8 million, coded 22021004, is from his office’s total allocation of N2.995 billion.
The vice president’s medical expenses will gulp N10.8 million.
Other proposals in the budget include the allocation of N2.378 billion for the president’s local and foreign travels; with N1.219 billion going for his local trips and N1.159 for foreign trips.
Source: Daily Trust
