Tinubu signs budget with SUVs for wife’s office despite criticism

President Bola Tinubu has signed into law a ₦2.2 trillion supplementary budget, despite widespread criticism from citizens facing a cost-of-living crisis. The budget includes funding for new bulletproof SUVs for the president and his wife, as well as renovations to the president’s residential quarters.

The budget, which was approved by lawmakers on November 2, also includes allocations for official sports utility vehicles for the first lady’s office. The office is not recognised under Nigerian laws.

The version submitted by the president to the National Assembly contained a provision for a presidential yacht, but while the Senate approved that request, the House of Representatives blocked it.

It was not clear what version the president signed on Wednesday. Premium Times reported that the Senate later adopted the House’s version, but Reuters said the yacht remained in the signed budget.

Why this matters

The spending plan was initially proposed by Tinubu as a means to address “urgent issues” such as defense and security. However, specific allocations for such areas were overshadowed by the allocation of funds for items seen as luxuries, such as the bulletproof SUVs and the yacht.

Opponents of the budget have argued that the spending is insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians, who are struggling to make ends meet amid rising inflation and economic hardship.

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.

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Budget minister Abubakar Bagudu said defence and security made about 30% of the signed budget, while 35% is for infrastructure. The money in the latter category will go to ministries of work and federal capital territory.

Bagudu said 32% of budget will cover the N35,000 wage award approved for federal workers, cash transfers to vulnerable persons to cushion the effect of the removal of fuel subsidy. The money will go to the Independent National Electoral Commission.