Senate Probes Presidency On N1.3bn Budget On Feeding

The Presidency has explained that over N500 million had been budgeted for meals and refreshment in the 2012 budget largely due to the high volume of statutory meetings that are expected to hold in the Presidential villa.

Permanent Secretary in the State House, Tunji Olaopa said this in his presentation before a Senate Committee in defence of the N18.353 billion allocated in the 2012 budget for the State House.

The Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs called the allocation outrageous.

“Is the purchase of residential furniture for N295 million for the residence of the president? Also you have N265 million for computers, you bought computers last year, do you still want to buy computers this year again?” the chairman of the committee, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta (PDP, Niger East), queried.

From the budget presentaion, refreshement and meals for 2012 is N293.6 million, while N312.316 million was spent on the same in 2011.

Food stuff and catering material supplies is slated to take up N476.966 million of the nation's budget, N573.934 million was spent on the same in 2011.