Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Kashim Shettima are set to spend N9.36 billion on local and international travels, as well as refreshments in 2025, according to details of the 2025 Appropriation Bill released by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
The bill, titled ‘Restoration Budget: Securing Peace and Building Prosperity’, was presented by President Tinubu on Wednesday to a joint session of the National Assembly.
According to the breakdown, Tinubu will spend N7.44 billion on travel and refreshments, with N6.14 billion allocated for international trips and N873.9 million for local travel. A further N431.6 million has been set aside for refreshments, meals, foodstuffs, and catering supplies.
Shettima will spend N1.9 billion on similar expenses, including N1.31 billion for international trips and N417.5 million for local travel. An additional N186.02 million has been earmarked for refreshments and catering.
The proposed budget also allocates N4.76 billion for vehicles, including N3.66 billion for operational vehicles and N1 billion for replacing SUVs. Another N255.7 million is set aside for new cars, with N127.8 million each for SUVs for the president and vice president and operational vehicles for the Presidential Conference Car Unit fleet.
Additional expenditures include N5.94 billion for honorarium, fuel, and the construction of an office complex for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants. This comprises N2.12 billion for sitting allowances and honoraria, N1.99 billion for fuel, and N1.83 billion for the office complex.
The National Assembly has passed the N49.7 trillion budget for a second reading in both chambers. The Senate referred the bill to the Committee on Appropriations, while the House of Representatives sent it to the House Committee on Appropriation.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has also approved a bill to extend the capital component of the 2024 budget to June 30, 2025. Both chambers have adjourned until January 14, 2025, for the yuletide break.
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