by Rachel Ogbu

The Senate has questioned the 2013 budget of the Federal Capital Territory that allocated N4 billion to build a mission house for first ladies.

Other plans to spend N7.5bn on managing  the FCT and N150m on renovating the Vice-President’s Guest House in Asokoro, Abuja were questioned as well.

According to reports, the Senate raised the concerns during its second reading of the FCTA’s N253.2bn budget, of which N48.034bn is for personnel cost; N49.5bn for overheads and the balance of N155.7bn for capital projects.

“The fundamental thrust of the bill is for the provision of services and infrastructure which are in tandem with Mr. President’s transformation agenda on empowerment,” leader of the Senate, Victor Ndoma-Egba said.

Senate Deputy Leader,Abdul Ningi, noted that there was illogical prioritising in the FCT budget struggling to understand the logic behind the allocation of N4bn for the First Ladies mission house and N150m for the renovation of the Vice-President’s Guest House.

“This is a misplacement of priority, how can we have N4bn for a house for first ladies. The N150m for the renovation of guest house of the Vice- President shows that we are not getting our priorities right,” Ningi, said.

Senate President, David Mark, observed that the budget had some faults but did not make any specific reference.

See breakdown of the budget–

A total of N48.65bn is reserved for the completion and construction of some vital roads in the FCT and the provision of infrastructural facilities in some districts which includes N7.45bn for the expansion and rehabilitation of Onex (Kubwa) and Airport Expressway; N22. 53bn for infrastructure at ongoing districts and roads and N2.7bn for water supply.

The sum of N4bn is proposed for the construction of First Ladies Mission Building. Also the sum of N150m is set aside for the renovation of Vice-President’s Guest House in Asokoro.

The sum of N24bn is proposed for the provision of infrastructural facilities and the completion of ongoing projects. About N23bn is for the completion of ongoing projects while N470m is for new projects.”

N30bn was set aside for the provision of infrastructure and services in the education sector and N12bn for the health sector.

Transport got N50. 5bn; environment, N5.2bn; security, N2.4bn; Agriculture, N6bn; social development, N5bn and management of Abuja city, N7. 5bn . In addition, a total of N1.6bn was proposed for the construction of a resettlement house and payment of compensation.