SAN FRANCISCO, December 28, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has earmarked N400m in the 2017 budget for the purchase of vehicles for the nation’s former heads of government and their deputies in 2017.
The figure is part of the N9.882bn budgeted for the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the year in the 2017 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly.
From the amount, N280.099m was budgeted for the purchase of vehicles for seven former Presidents and Heads of State while N120.090m would be used to procure vehicles for four former Vice-Presidents and ex-Chiefs of General Staff.
The nation’s seven living former heads of government who would benefit from the largesse include Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.); Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari; Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.); Chief Ernest Shonekan; Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (retd.); and former President Goodluck Jonathan.
The four living former Vice-Presidents and ex-Chiefs of General Staff who would also benefit are former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.); Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd.), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and former Vice-President Namadi Sambo.
Apart from the leaders, the office of the SGF will also buy N32m vehicles for offices and units in the office while the government will also spend a total of N170m on the nation’s Independence Day and Democracy Day celebrations.
The office is also expected to spend N1.322bn on the procurement and installation of security system across selected Ministries, Departments and Agencies while N104.586m will be spent on support and maintenance of e-council document management.
Story by Oputah David
