The increase, as stated before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs, yesterday, by the Permanent Secretary, State House, Jalal Arabi, was largely due to the need to stock its medical centre (Aso Clinic) with required drugs and medical equipments. Another reason for the increase, he added, was the need for the State House to change many of the security vehicles in the convoy of the President, under the Office of the Chief Security Officer (CSO). The permanent secretary explained further that out of the N1.5 billion, N970millio is earmarked for that purpose, under the State House Headquarters, while the remaining N653million is earmarked for the office of the CSO. While the office of the Vice President, in the recurrent expenditure component estimates of the budget, had N448.618million allocation, N446.618million was projected for it this year. It would be recalled that the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari, cried out last year that ordinary paracetamol was not available in the State House Clinic as drug, let alone required injections and other medical facilities.

Source: The Guardian January 20, 2018 04:30 UTC