The Permanent Secretary of the State House, Mr Jalal Arabi, during the defence of the Presidential Villa’s 2017 budget, yesterday, before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, disclosed that N94.5 million has been proposed for the purchase of treated (bullet-proof) tyres in 2017, representing 50 percent increase compared to what was budgeted in 2016.
Arabi said the budget cut in 2016, from N16.5 billion to N13. 5 billion, in 2017, represents 18.08 percent reduction in comparison with the sum appropriated last year.
Arabi, while defending the 2017 State House budget proposal before lawmakers, told the committee that despite its decision to cut down on this year’s annual total budget, an increase was, however, made, particularly, for routine maintenance of villa facilities, electricity charges and overhead expenditures.
He explained that some factors such as exchange rate and inflationary trends were responsible for the increase in the items contained in this year’s proposal.
-Sun
