SENATE President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, have rejected a N10 billion budgetary provision for construction of their official residences inthe 2016 budget.
The budget proposal, which was included in the 2016 budget estimate of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was meant for the completion of the ongoing construction of their official residences.
The buildings have been abandoned since mid-last year after the swearing in of President Muhammadu Buhari in May last year.
While the sum of N6 billion was allocated for the completion of the Senate President’s residence, the sum of N4 billion was allotted for the completion of theresidence of the Speaker.
It was gathered that the duo of Saraki and Dogara met last week and agreed that the allotted fund should be reduced to N1 billion each.The two presiding officers were said to have agreed that the sum of N10 billion be reduced to N2 billion, thereby saving the sum of N8billion.
The two presiding officers were said to have reached the FCT Committees in the two chambers to effect the changes.
The two committees have in turn reported to the Committees on Appropriation, which is expected to redistribute the savings to other sectors in the FCT.
Sources close to the Senate President and the Speakersaid that in view of the prevailing economic situation inthe country, there was every need for every public officer to be frugal.
A source said that the presiding officers found the amounts allocated for the buildings as unnecessary and insensitive.
It was learnt that the presiding officers insisted that theFCT Ministry should find a way of scaling down the cost of the buildings, a development that could slow down the completion of the projects.
Sources said that Saraki and Dogara were not in a hurry to occupy the official residences, and have indicated their intention to continue to occupy the current accommodation even till the end of their tenure.Until November last year,
Saraki was living in his personal house, but a fire incident in the house forced him to relocate to a guest house in Maitama area, while Dogara is currently occupying a rented apartment.
[tribune]
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