TheCable

Jalal Arabi, permanent secretary of the State House, on Tuesday defended the 2016 state house budget proposal of N18.1 billion before the national assembly.

Arabi disclosed that N699 million had been earmarked for the purchase of five CVU cars, 10 each of 33-seater Coaster and Hiace buses and utility pick-up van.

He said the vehicles were essentially needed for the CVU and the main pool for staff movements, and shuttle of visitors into the presidential villa in view of the current security situations.

“It is in record that there were no purchase/replacement of State House pool vehicles in the State House in the last seven years despite the deteriorating level of most them,’’ he said.

Arabi also disclosed that N3.2 billion of the budget was earmarked for the upgrade of State House Clinic to centre of excellence.

“The budget for the State House Medical Centre included N3.219billion proposed for the completion of on-going work as well as procurement of drugs and other mediacal equipment,”he said.

“The Medical Centre provides health care treatment for the President and Vice-President, their families as well as numerous civil servants working in the State House and across the ministries, departments and agencies of government and of course, with due respect, including parliamentarians and members of the legislature in addition to other notable dignitaries.

“Interestingly, Mr Chairman, on a lighter note, not only those that have been captured here attend (the Medical Centre) there are poor of poorest that attend because we receive reference from Gwagwalada, Garki, Wuse hospitals.

“So, if they come, we attend to them and interestingly too at no fee at all, we don’t charge

“The anticipated improvement of the Medical Centre will propel it to serve as a Centre of Excellence and also reduce medical tourism.

“May I also add that the State House Medical Centre, unlike other Medical Centres does not charge any fees for its services and hence does not generate any revenue for itself.”

Arabi said N3.9billion of the budget was earmarked for the routine maintenance of the State House, while 394 million would be spent on rehabilitation of dilapidated structures being occupied by security personnel.

He said N1.79billion would be spent on replacement and rehabilitation of mechanical and electrical cables and other accessories in the State House, saying the installations had been in place since the construction of the villa complex in 1992.

“Hence, it has become absolutely necessary to replace the critical ones in view of the sensitive nature of the equipment especially as they affect the security of the presidential villa,” he said.

“Several attempts were made in the past to capture same in previous budgets, while much concerted efforts deployed since 2012 but to no avail.”

Tijani Kaura, chairman, senate committee on federal character and inter-governmental affairs, expressed satisfaction at the presentation.

He said the explanation offered on the State House Clinic budget had cleared the air on the misconceptions on the matter.