The permanent secretary of the State House, Tijjani Umar, says the State House 2023 budget proposal of N21.1 billion is lower than the 2022 appropriation of N40.1 billion by N19.01 billion, decrying the N59 million earmarked for the State House complex and guest houses in Lagos.

Mr Umar revealed this when he led other top management staff of the State House to defend the 2023 budget proposals before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs on Thursday in Abuja.

In his submission, which also included details of the 2022 budget performance, the permanent secretary noted a marginal decrease in the personnel cost due to the anticipated retirement of 40 staff in 2023.

According to him, the recurrent expenditure levels in the various cost centres have been maintained except for marginal increases in the Office of the President, Vice President and the Chief of Staff to the President.

On capital expenditure for 2023, Mr Umar explained that the major areas of expenditure in the State House under capital appropriation include the annual routine maintenance of the facilities in the Presidential Villa, Abuja and the State House Complex, Lagos.

It also includes the purchase of operational motor vehicles, the State House Clinic and the proposed National Centre for Coordination for Early Warning and Response Mechanism (NCCRM) in the office of the Vice President for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience (OSPRE).

The facilities in Abuja and Lagos include but are not limited to buildings and infrastructure in the President’s and Vice President’s residences, Offices, State House Auditorium, State House Gymnasium and Presidential Banquet Hall.

Others are Council Chamber, State House Conference Centre, Presidential and Ministerial Airport Chalets and Airport Lounge in Abuja, and State House, Dodan Barracks Complex in Lagos.

While noting that commitment to these facilities takes 65 per cent of the total appropriation, Umar disclosed that to keep them in optimal condition, N7.20 billion had been proposed for 2023 against N7.76 billion in 2022.

‘‘Closely following this is the dire and urgent need for the complete replacement and upgrading of the communication/telephony system and electronic visitors record management in the Presidential Villa,’’ he said.

He added that N150 million had been proposed to complete the telecommunications infrastructure in 2023.

On the facilities and buildings in the Lagos Liaison Office Complex and Guest Houses, the permanent secretary told the Committee that ‘‘they are old and require not only maintenance but renovation and renewal.’’

He expressed concern that the provision of N59 million for maintaining the State House Lagos complex and guest houses was inadequate, stressing that about N644 million would be required to upgrade the facilities.

On purchasing operational motor vehicles and following discussions with the Budget Office of the Federation, Mr Umar said N1.96 billion was proposed under the phased replacement of vehicles in the Presidential Ground Fleet and those in the Conference Coordination Unit (CCU).

‘‘It is noteworthy that most of the vehicles being proposed for replacement were procured more than 10 years ago and have since exceeded their useful economic lives. ‘This has resulted in frequent breakdowns and an unsustainable expenditure on repairs/replacements of parts,’’ the perm sec added.

He maintained that the released amount of N800 million was inadequate to procure the required numbers that need to be replaced.

(NAN)