President Bola Tinubu is seeking approval from the National Assembly for N7.3 billion to purchase a range of new vehicles for the presidential villa, despite repeatedly admonishing Nigerians to endure a crippling cost of living crisis.
From the amount, the president will use N1.5 billion to purchase new vehicles for his wife’s office, which is not recognized under Nigerian laws, Premium Times reported Tuesday.
The president will also spend N2.9 billion on sports utility vehicles and another N2.9 billion on “operational vehicles”.
The details are contained in the supplementary budget the president sent to the lawmakers on Tuesday, the paper reported.
Mr Tinubu wants the National Assembly to approve a plan for his government to spend N2.17 trillion before the budget for 2024 is ready. It was not immediately clear what constitutes the bulk of the spending.
Like president, like lawmakers
The spending plan comes as Nigerians groan under the weight of the country’s cost of living crisis, with inflation at 20-year high.
The president has repeatedly urged longsuffering citizens to endure hardship made worse by his administration’s removal of petrol subsidy and the devaluation of the naira, but government officials’ wasteful lifestyle has remained unchanged.
The 460-member National Assembly has defended its plan to buy expensive sports utility vehicles for members, at an estimated cost of over N100 million each.
The so-called First Lady Office, which the president seeks to apply public funds to, is not recognized by the Nigerian constitution or any other law of the land.
More expenses
The president also plans to spend N4 billion on the renovation of the residential quarters of the president; N2.5 billion on the renovation of the vice president’s resident.
In all, N28 billion is proposed for the State House, while the presidential air fleet will get N12.5 billion, Premium Times reported.
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