THE Senate was, yesterday, told that the N1, 305, 292, 050 set aside in the 2013 budget for refreshment and meals and other miscellaneous expenses in the State House will not be enough.

This is just as a breakdown of the Miscellaneous sub-head in Aso Rock’s budget shows that N203,752,432 was allocated for refreshment and meals; N107,412,768 would be spent on honorarium and sitting allowance while N37, 277,825 will be for publicity and advertisement.

These were disclosed, yesterday, when the State House Permanent Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbile appeared before the Senator Dahiru Kuta-led Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs to defend the N14,715,566,104 budget for next year.

Ogbile also told the senators some other expenses that were being taken care of in the refreshment and meals vote, which he said include National Economic Council (NEC), Council of State, conferences in the Banquet Hall, Presidential retreats, National Merit Award, Children’s Day as well as hosting of dignitaries. Chairman of the Committee, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta, however, countered the Permanent Secretary on the provision for the Merit Award which he said has its own budget.

The Permanent Secretary also gave a further breakdown of the 2013 State House budget as thus, Medical expenses (N50,308,546); Postage and courier services (N10,035,583); Welfare packages (N195,066,223); Subscription to professional bodies (N4,589,793); and Sporting activities (N32,910,730).

According to him, Overtime will gulp, N250,455,589; Feeding of animals including animal supplements for the veterinary clinic (N30,584,144); Summit/ Extra ordinary sessions including the UN, African Union, ECOWAS, etc (N228,112,862); and NYSC, IT, LOCUM, Housemanship and contract staff allowance (N144,788,555).

According to Ogbile: “I have taken pains to explain that this money is not just to fund the residence of the President and that of the Vice President. The experience I have had is that this fund is grossly insufficient. It is not even enough.”

The Permanent Secretary noted that “it is also from the budget of N1.305 billion that we take care of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which holds every Wednesday.”
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/11/n1-305b-not-enough-for-refreshments-meals-presidential-villa-tells-senate/

In a country that is well governed, POVERTY is something †̥ be ashamed of. God dey

Nothing new here; so what's the news about?

N30.5 mil for feeding of animals Are u guys runing a zoo at aso rock?

ujchief: N30.5 mil for feeding of animals Are u guys runing a zoo at aso rock?

sincerely speaking, the amount is reasonable. Fyi, taking care of dogs cost a lot

ujchief: N30.5 mil for feeding of animals Are u guys runing a zoo at aso rock?

There is a zoo @ the Aso Rock Villa (I think it was Abacha that established it). They had to kill all the peacocks and ostriches at the zoo during the bird flu crisis, but I think they bought more when the crisis was over.

I don't know why we Nigerians like to exaggerate,at least with the clarifications given by the state house perm sec people will kniw that these monies are not just for the feeding of the president and his vice,so many activities go on in the state house.

supereagle:
The Permanent Secretary noted that “it is also from the budget of N1.305 billion that we take care of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) which holds every Wednesday.”

/

Tell members of the FEC to pack their own lunches.

No more wasting of taxpayers money on an
overfed bunch.

warrior01:
sincerely speaking, the amount is reasonable. Fyi, taking care of dogs cost a lot

Na Madness dey worry you. You and your entire family don use N30million for food and supplement your entire life? Except say na human beings dem dey feed the animals. Make dem gettaway jare!

I think it is high time learnt how to make drones and send them to that aso rock... this people are better dead than living

warrior01:
sincerely speaking, the amount is reasonable. Fyi, taking care of dogs cost a lot

You see what we are talking about.

For crying out loud, this is general cake not personal and general cake should be used carefully.

What a mess.

General cake not enough.

Let them starve there.

1.3 billion not enough for refreshment? , I am now sure our politicials are truely mad infact first grade madness

Of course 1.3bn can't buy gucci rice and prada beans na.
Just wait make I enter government.

Na human being head Jonathan and him family wan dey chop everyday?

Na Okija Shrine get the contract of supplying meat to the villa.

NYSC, IT, LOCUM, Housemanship and contract staff allowance (N144,788,555) . I will love to serve my NYSC or do my IT in ASOROCK O. please i need connections

30million to feed animals!?
Why not cut the expense, get rid of the animals, take them to a zoo in lagos, where people can come play money to see, generating revenue to feed them and extra!
Every country is dutting down on usless expenses, even the US but here we are adding to it.

I wish im with the villa animals. So atlesat i go chop 1mil

supereagle:

N203,752,432 was allocated for refreshment and meals;
N107,412,768 would be spent on honorarium and sitting allowance
N37, 277,825 will be for publicity and advertisement.

Medical expenses (N50,308,546);
Postage and courier services (N10,035,583);
Welfare packages (N195,066,223);
Subscription to professional bodies (N4,589,793);
and Sporting activities (N32,910,730).
Overtime will gulp, N250,455,589;
Feeding of animals (N30,584,144);
Summit/ Extra ordinary sessions (N228,112,862);
NYSC, IT, LOCUM, Housemanship and contract staff allowance (N144,788,555).

our money is finished

God bless Nigeria. What a country!

This is the Fresh Air he promised us......

garri&groundnut shd be included in that aso rock menu to save cost..
all fed.exco shd eat their breakfast at home b4 coming to any sitting to further safe cost.

take dat: Na Madness dey worry you. You and your entire family don use N30million for food and supplement your entire life? Except say na human beings dem dey feed the animals. Make dem gettaway jare!

Dont u get d joke, he means taking care of "dogs"........... ÄTTACK DOGS"

Louis vultton rice, gucci beans, prada oat, CK chicken all inside a carvalli plate with a burberry spoon. Who says our leaders eats expensive meals.

.

ujchief: N30.5 mil for feeding of animals Are u guys runing a zoo at aso rock?

No,it's not for real animals,its for them.. Abi you no know say GEJ and his group na animals...
Gej----- tortoise
abati----- snake
obj---- monkey
alison madueke abi na maduela------- frog
david mark----- bull
etc..etc....

So, they want to eat until they kpeme (die). God is watching!

NYSC ,IT ,housemanship,I av not heard dat any1 has eva served in aso rock b4,may b it a special rquest.
Sons and daughters of ministers,senators,pdp,vp.

This should be moved to the joke section, obviously this is a joke.
I billion no reach feed johnny boy again, isn't this the same man that had no shoe as a kid?
You would think he would understand the meaning of the word prudence by now, evidently he doesn't.

I think the budget is too small going by the activities that take place in Aso Rock, increasing the budget to 5billion wil b manageable.

At a time when they can let miscreants like farouk out for something he did,....or who says he didn't do it..