Witness narrates how Ex-HoS, allies diverted public funds to private companies in court
National Budget: Presidency to spend N3.2b on travels
By Emmanuel Awosika
The Presidency will spend some N3.2 billion on travels in 2021, according to details of the 2021 Budget presented to the National Assembly for approval.
According to the Budget Office of the Federation, President Muhammadu Buhari will spend about N2.426 billion on local and foreign travels.
Of that figure, N1.651 billion will cover international trips while the remaining N775.602 million will go towards funding local trips.
The budget also earmarked a figure of N1.079 billion for State House Operations in the office of the Vice President, Yemi Osibanjo.
The VP will spend some N517.060 million on international travels, and another 283.974 million on local travels.
Meanwhile, the Presidency is asking for N582,592,638 to cover cost of buying foodstuffs, catering materials, refreshments.
The State House Headquarters of the Aso Rock Villa is demanding allocation of N12.306 billion to fund operations.
Capital expenditure will gulp N7.728 billion, with N5.244 billion out of that earmarked for rehabilitation and repair of office buildings. Around N436.264 million will also go to the purchase of motor vehicles.
Other expenses highlighted in the budget include: wildlife conservation (N51.465 million); fuel and lubricants (N132.199 million); and sports (N30.187 million).
The government will spend some N350 billion in recurrent expenditure for special intervention programmes. It also plans to contribute about to N30 billion to international organisations.
Another N2.3 billion will cover the cost of settling entitlements of past heads of state and vice presidents/chiefs of general staff.
Similarly, the government expects to pay N4.502 billion in benefits to former permanent secretaries, professors, and heads of service.
