Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila, has refuted claims circulating in certain online publications suggesting that his office is slated to receive a N21 billion allocation in the 2024 budget estimates recently presented to the National Assembly by the President.
According to the report, the allocation includes N104 million for the purchase of computers and printers for ‘local travel and transport for international training,’ with an additional N579 million earmarked for his office’s miscellaneous expenses. The breakdown further indicates N10 billion for the reconstruction and repair of the CoS’s official residence, approximately N10.1 billion for computer software purchase, and N290 million allocated for the acquisition of vehicles.
In response to the report, Gbajabiamila clarified the situation through his X handle @femigbaja on Wednesday. He asserted that he resides in his private residence in Abuja, emphasizing that the quoted sum is intended for renovating the Presidential Quarters in Dodan Barracks and the Vice President’s Lodge in Lagos.
The funds are also designated for overhauling information management and communications facilities in the Presidency to meet modern standards and providing vehicles for the staff of the Presidency.
The Chief of Staff said: “I have seen social media commentary regarding the 2024 Appropriation Bill, particularly the provisions under the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President.
“Owing to the erroneous nature of these reports, it has become necessary to clarify that there is no provision in the 2024 Appropriation Bill for the renovation of any residence for the Chief of Staff to the President. I live in my private residence.
“The sums mischievously quoted by online bloggers and fake news merchants are for renovating the Presidential Quarters in Dodan Barracks and the Vice President’s Lodge in Lagos, to overhaul the information management and communications facilities in the Presidency to meet modern standards and to provide vehicles for the staff of the Presidency.
“The sums proposed for these projects are clearly stated in the budget proposal and bear no resemblance to the deceptive online commentary.
“This administration welcomes and encourages scrutiny of government expenditure; this is why the Budget proposal is publicly available. However, healthy public debate about government actions requires us to be responsible with our utterances and engage based on facts rather than insinuations and falsehoods.”