Posers over duplications in 2010, 2011 budgets

[TGD]

A COCKTAIL of unsavoury duplications of capital expenditures, totaling N3.1 billion may have been uncovered in this year's appropriation bill, currently before the National Assembly.

The discovery noted certain approvals in the 2010 budget, which resurfaced again in the current year's estimates, even at higher figures, giving credence to the lamentations over the high cost governance in Nigeria, especially the whopping amount expended in maintaining the upkeep of officials.

Indeed, a N1.06 billion estimate for the construction of official quarters in this year's appropriation bill, has raised eyebrows, on assessed impropriety of the budget.

Specifically, the assessed duplicated expenditure proposals include a N500 million for the extention of Vice-President's lounge at Aguda House; N400 million for acquisition, upgrading and furnishing of Vice-President's Guest House also at Aguda House; furnishing of number two citizens Guest House at Asokoro, Abuja at N100 million.

Also duplicated on the 2011 appropriation bill are the N50 million provision for purchase of household equipment and materials for Vice-President's residence; N300 million for purchase of utility vehicles and operational vehicles and purchase of comprehensive public address system for the Vice-President's conference room plus teleprompter and podium for N20 million.

Other duplications are N249 million for upgrade of "Villa facilities"; N180 million to install irrigation networks for lawns and gardens in the State House; N545 million to purchase of hospital equipment for State House Medical Centre; and N574 million earmarked for foodstuff and catering supplies at State House.

The 2010 budget had curiously listed these items as approved expenditures for the year, under the capital vote.

For instance, N30 million was approved for the extension of Vice president's lounge at Aguda House, while a request for N240 million was also approved  for "purchase of office/ Household equipment, including the banquet hall kitchen and Asokoro Guest House.

In the 2010 budget, there is a provision of N100 million for "provision of network infrastructure for the State House, Abuja and Lagos" in the budget 2011, there is a new N184 million to be spent on "irrigation networks for lawns and gardens in the State House."

In the 2010 budget, there is a provision of N386 million "procurement of new medical equipment for the new extensions at the State House Medical Centre (SHMC) while in 2011 budget there is fresh provision of N237 million for "purchase of hospital equipment for the SHMC."

Also in the budget is a provision of N545 million for "provision of specialised services to the new ward and dialysis unit of the SHMC."

Also in the 2011 budget while there is a N574 million proposed spend for "foodstuff and catering supplies" at the State House, but in the same budget there is another provision of N312 million for "Refreshment and meals" and another provision of N403 million for "purchase of kitchen and household equipment" for the State House.

Already, opposition parties are up in arms against the government over this.

An advertorial by a group called Restoration Alliance for Buhari has raised some posers: "Are there two VIP lounges at Aguda or the N30 million provision in 2010 was not utilised? What increased the cost of the extension from N30 million to N500 million, an increase of 1,566 per cent in one year? Does the addition of furnishing justify such a massive increase?"

"Is the purchase of the office/household equipment for the guest house at Asokoro in 2010 different from the "furnishing of VP's guest house at Asokoro in 2011"?

What happens to the old furnishings that are no longer needed which have been used for less than a year?

These and many other questions, The Guardian learnt, are being mulled by many other society groups which met over the weekend.

Source: Posers over duplications in 2010, 2011 budgets