President Bola Tinubu has submitted a Supplementary Budget to the National Assembly, requesting the allocation of over N6.9 billion for the procurement of vehicles for the State House.
Meanwhile, in the same budget, the Office of the First Lady is set to receive N1.5 billion for the purchase of new cars.
This budget request is part of President Tinubu’s broader proposal, which includes a N2.17 trillion Supplementary Budget for approval by the National Assembly.
Within this supplementary budget, the government intends to allocate N2.9 billion for the acquisition of Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) designated for the Presidential Villa. Additionally, N2.9 billion will be designated for replacing existing vehicles in the State House’s fleet.
This substantial expenditure comes at a time when the Nigerian public continues to express discontent over the National Assembly’s decision to allocate N75 billion for vehicle purchases. Protests by young citizens have taken place in Lagos and Abuja, with demonstrators expressing their concerns about the substantial government spending on vehicles amidst a challenging economic climate.
In the proposed Supplementary Budget, the government plans to allocate N28 billion for expenses related to the State House, along with an additional N12.5 billion for the maintenance and operation of the Presidential Air Fleet. These allocations represent significant financial commitments in the face of ongoing economic challenges.
As President Tinubu’s Supplementary Budget awaits consideration by the National Assembly, it is likely to spark further debate and discussion among Nigerians about the allocation of funds for vehicles and government expenses in the midst of economic uncertainty.
