The sum of N45.3 million was approved for
electricity charges for the state house in the
2016 budget.
The presidency owes the sum of N552m
electricity bill, according to the permanent
secretary to the state house, Jalal A. Arabi.

Arabi made the disclosure when giving a
breakdown of the state house 2017 budget to
the senate committee on federal character and
inter-governmental affairs on Thursday,
February 16.
On electricity charges, Arabi said that N45.3
million was approved in the 2016 budget, The
Nation reports.

He said that the State House electricity bill for
2016 alone as forwarded by Abuja Electricity
Distribution Company (AEDC) for State House
Abuja was N252 million with another
outstanding liability of over N300 million for
State House, Lagos facilities.
The secretary noted that the provision in the
2016 budget could not accommodate the
outstanding liability.

He said that the management of the State
House was forced to install meters in 2016 to
ensure proper billing “and that was what
reduced the bill to a reasonable figure.”
“We have made a modest provision of the sum
of N319.6 million for 2017 to settle current and
part of outstanding bills as noted above.”
Arabi disclosed that N94.5 million was
budgeted to purchase bullet-proof tyres for the
use of President Muhammadu Buhari and others
in the 2017 fiscal year.

On canteen and kitchen equipment, Arabi said
that the sum of N100.8 million was provided for
in the 2017 proposal.
This amount is principally the un-released
appropriation for 2016 which was the unpaid
balance in 2015 for contracts awarded and
executed.
“The sum of N80.2million appropriated in 2016
has up to this moment not been released hence
its roll over and inclusion in 2017.”
He noted that the amount covered kitchen
equipment in the main residence, VP residence,
banquet hall, State House medical centre, State
House auditorium and 22 other guest houses.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has
vowed to end corruption in all ramifications in
Nigeria.
Buhari made the promise at the launch of an
anti-corruption campaign, tagged “The Value
Project” in Abuja on Thursday, February 16.
The president who was represented by the
minister of state for education, Professor
Anthony Anwukah, said looting of public funds,
bribery of public officials and other vices
associated with corrupt practices constitute
more than half the real problems of the nation,
Tribune reports.