When Presidentt Muhammau Buhari moves into the State House after the
May 29 handover, he will be confronted with N8.185,575,211.50 debts.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan will on May 28 conduct Buhari round
the Villa – the seat of power in Abuja where facilities are said to be ageing.
About N3,647,793, 305.76 is needed to fix the infrastructure at the
Villa.
These highlights are contained in a report submitted to the Federal
Government Transition Committee, which is headed by Former Vice President
Namadi Sambo.
The committee is expected to submit its report today to the Ahmed
Joda-led APC Transition Committee.
The liabilities include contracts/service providers
(N1,234,913,628.92), staff claims (N1,238,876,080.16), local contracts
commitments and liabilities, including Julius Berger Nigeria (N6, 946,699,
131.34).
The report said: “The President had on December 3 last year approved
the release of N3,394,168,460.95 for the payment of recurrent/overhead debts
and capital debts due to other contractors, consultants and service providers.
This is yet to be released by the Federal Ministry of Finance, it said.
Former President Jonathan, according to the report, on April 15
directed the Coordinating Minister for the Economy/Minister of Finance, Dr
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to look into the State House appeal for the release of at
least N4billion to make part-payments out of the total outstanding debts of
N8,185,575,2111.50 “to sustain the existing mutual and cordial relationships
with the owed firms. This is still being awaited”.
The report said the N8.1b liabilities are outside the expenses on the
renovation of the Defence House, the main residence/ president's office, Aguda
House/ Vice President's office and other guest houses under the transition
programme.
“The bills for these transition programme works are yet to be received
and will be additional to the 2015 annual Service Level Agreement for the State
House Facilities with an annual average commitment of N3,531,793,631.77
certified for 2014,” the report added.
Facilities at the State House have started aging and the budgetary
provision increasingly becoming inadequate.
The report said: “The primary challenge facing the State House has been
the inadequacy of successive budgetary appropriations. The State House annual
appropriations do not match its actual activities, thereby leading to regular
recourse to additional funding from Intervention Fund from the Federal Ministry
of Finance.
“About 283 of the temporary staff not found eligible for regularisation
were with the approval of His Excellency, the President given contract.
appointments renewable annually based on performance and fitness.
“ However, payment of their salaries(an average of N8million per month)
is from State House overheads provision, which remains a huge challenge to
State House.
“The existing infrastructure for mechanical, electrical and associated
components have aged and are performing well beyond their design lives.
“The proposal for their replacement/ upgrade has been reviewed and
certified by the Bureau of Public Procurement in the total sum of N3,647,793,
305.76. However due to paucity of funds, phased implementation is being adopted
for the most vital and critical works, starting with Phase I in the sum of
N693, 119,509.55
“Inadequate office space to accommodate staff of the State House and
inadequate operational vehicles for the efficient discharge of the activities
of the various departments and units of the State House, including shuttle
buses within the State House Complex and between the State House and the State
House Medical Centre.”
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