President Bola Ahmed Tinubu presented a N2.176tn 2023 supplementary budget proposal to the house of representatives on Tuesday 30th of October 2023.
In the budget breakdown, the Ministry of Defence was granted the highest allocation of N476.543 billion, while Works received N300 billion, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was allocated N200 billion.
Within the State House section of the budget, N2.9 billion was designated for the purchase of SUV vehicles, N1.5 billion for official vehicles for the First Lady’s office, N4 billion for renovating Mr. President’s residential quarters, another N4 billion for the renovation of Dodan Barracks (Mr. President’s official residence), N3 billion for the renovation of the Vice President’s official quarters in Lagos, and N4 billion for the construction of an office complex in Aso Rock. In the Office of the National Security Adviser section, a budget allocation of N12.7 billion was set aside for the Presidential Air Fleet. In the Nigeria Navy section, N5 billion was earmarked for a Presidential Yacht.
N5 billion was allocated for the renovation of 100 schools, N5.5 billion for the Education Loan Fund to support student loans, Housing received N100 billion, the Federal Capital Territory Administration got N100 billion, the Department of State Services (DSS) received N49 billion, and Police Formations and Command got N50 billion.
In the supplementary appropriation bill, Service Wide Votes were allocated N615 billion.
Other allocations include N49 billion for the Department of State Services, N29.7 billion for the Office of the National Security Adviser, and N18 billion for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct off-cycle governorship elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo States on November 11.
Please note that these allocations are subject to approval by the National Assembly.
The highlight of the budget is the N5 billion for a presidental yacht, N7 billion for the renovation of Tinubu and Shettima’s residences in Lagos and the N1.5 billion for the purchase of vehicles for the first lady’s office, an office that is not recognised by the constitution.
The budget has caused an uproar among Nigerians. Citizens have criticized the budget, stating that Nigeria is currently going through an economic crisis. While the government is calling for austerity measures among its citizens, they themselves are not adhering to it.
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