How Irregular Release Of Budget Allocations Affect Travelling Arrangements Of The President, His Vice – Aso Rock

The Permanent Secretary in the State House, Alhaji Jalal Arabi has said that irregular releases of the budget allocations to the Presidency have negatively affected the travelling arrangements of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Jalal Arabi, who received the
Chairman and members of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Tijani Kaura, oversite visit to the State House, said that the settlement of staff claims arising from official assignments has also been affected by the irregular releases.
According to him, out of a total allocation of N3.84 billion for the recurrent expenditure in the 2016 budget, the State House has received N2.71 billion to date, representing 70.69 per cent.
On the capital budget, he said that with a total appropriation of N10.94 billion, N3.06 billion has been released to date, amounting to 27.9 per cent of the capital appropriation for 2016.
The Permanent Secretary said that a total of N2.53 billion has so far been expended on projects for which funds were released.
“Suffice it to note that all the amounts released are project-tied so they were judiciously applied to those projects.
“We are still expecting additional releases before the end of the year to enable us pay contractors that have executed jobs awarded to them,’’ the Permanent Secretary said.
On the 2017 budget proposal of N13.5 billion, the Permanent Secretary said that no new projects will be conceived because some of the ongoing projects in 2016 would be rolled over.
This was even as the Chairman and members of the Senate Committee commended the management team of the State House for prudent management of the 2016 budget.
Senator Kaura and gis team expressed satisfaction on the budget performance for 2016, particularly on the recurrent expenditure.
‘‘We have observed a very prudent management of the 2016 budget and we are proud to say that indeed the ‘Change Agenda’ has begun with the implementation of the State House budget.
“We commend the management team and we hope that our interactions with you will prepare both sides for the receipt of the 2017 budget.”