The State House permanent secretary, Tijjani Umar, has lamented that the N7.2 billion earmarked for the maintenance of the Presidential Villa in the 2023 budget0 is grossly inadequate.
Umar said this when he appeared before the Senate Committee on Federal Character on Thursday, November 3.
It would be recalled that a total of N21.1 billion was allocated to the State House for the 2023 fiscal year.
The State House also earmarked N1.96 billion for vehicle purchase and N644 million for maintenance of the State House Lagos Complex and guest houses.
Umar is now complaining that the budget was cut by almost 50 per cent and is inadequate.
Mr Umar told the Senate panel that the total budget size of N21.1 billion for the State House in 2023 is N19 billion less when compared to the N40 billion appropriated for it in the 2022 fiscal year.
