The Director General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze, has said that it is N9.25bn that was approved for the National Assembly renovation, not N27.7bn as earlier reported in the media.
The request for N37bn for the project had raised a lot of dust, with many saying the National Assembly and the Presidency said to have eventually approved the N27.7bn were insensitive.
But Akabuaze said the amount was not up to that.
He clarified in a statement:
“1. Statutory transfers to UBEC (Basic Education) and BHCPF (Basic Health) are set by LAW at 2% and 1% respectively of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF). Therefore, when the Covid-19 pandemic eroded the CRF, the budgetary provisions were automatically adjusted in accordance with the applicable laws.
“The provision for renovation/retrofitting of the National Assembly (NASS) Complex in the revised budget is N9.25bn, not N27bn as being bandied around. The initial provision of N37bn in the 2020 Appropriation Act for this was cut by 75% due to the impact of Covid-19 on government revenues.
“Please always check the website of the Budget Office of the Federation – www. budgetoffice.gov.ng – or use the Citizens Portal on this website to obtain accurate information about the FGN budget.”
Amor other people, entertainers such as Femi Anikulapo-Kuti and Banks W had lambasted the Federal Government, with the latter saying they were heartless.
How they would react to the over N9bn renovation, only time will tell.
