Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief of Staff to Bola Ahmed Tinubu has refuted claims that the 2024 budget includes a total allocation of N21 billion for his office.
According to sources within the National Assembly, Femi Gbajabiamila is slated to receive a staggering N21 billion allocation for the upcoming year which includes N10 billion for his official residence.
However, Gbajabiamila clarified via his Twitter handle that there is no provision in the 2024 Appropriation Bill for the renovation of his private residence, emphasising that he lives in his own dwelling in Abuja.
The purported budget breakdown included N104 million for computer and printer purchases, N579 million for local travel and international training, N103 million for miscellaneous expenses, and N290 million for vehicle procurement.
Gbajabiamila clarified that these funds are intended for different purposes, such as renovating the Presidential Quarters in Dodan Barracks and the Vice President’s Lodge in Lagos.
Additionally, the allocations aim to modernize information management and communication facilities within the Presidency and provide vehicles for the staff.
The Chief of staff stated, “I have seen social media commentary regarding the 2024 Appropriation Bill, particularly the provisions under the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
“Owing to the erroneous nature of these reports, it has become necessary to clarify that there is no provision in the 2024 Appropriation Bill for the renovation of any residence for the Chief of Staff to the President. I live in my private residence.
“The sums mischievously quoted by online bloggers and fake news merchants are for renovating the Presidential Quarters in Dodan Barracks and the Vice President’s Lodge in Lagos, to overhaul the information management and communications facilities in the Presidency to meet modern standards and to provide vehicles for the staff of the Presidency. The sums proposed for these projects are clearly stated in the budget proposal and bear no resemblance to the deceptive online commentary.
“This administration welcomes and encourages scrutiny of government expenditure; this is why the Budget proposal is publicly available. However, healthy public debate about government actions requires us to be responsible with our utterances and engage based on facts rather than insinuations and falsehoods”.