President Tinubu, Shettima To Spend N15billion On Trips In 2024

President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and their advisors may spend N15.961 billion on domestic and international travel in 2024.

The National Assembly is presently debating the 2024 Appropriations Bill, which includes the figure.

According Gistlover, the country’s N27.5 trillion budget dubbed the “Budget of Renewed Hope,” was presented to the National Assembly’s joint session last Wednesday.

The President would spend N638.535 million on domestic travel and N6.992 billion on international travel, according to the budget figures.

Additionally, the Vice President will travel domestically and abroad for N1.847 billion.

According to the projected budget, he will spend an extra N 618.399 million on domestic travel and N1.229 billion on foreign travel.

The N21 billion allocation to the Office of the Chief of Staff to the President represents a 97.5 percent increase over the N517.95 million allotted to the same office in the 2023 budget.

The document further disclosed the allocation of N3.14 billion to State House Operations (Vice-President), N9.1 billion to State House Operations (President), and N40.61 billion to the State House headquarters.

Additionally, N260.5 million was given to the President’s Chief Security Officer’s office; N1.13 billion went to the State House Medical Center; and N632.4 million was sent to the State Lagos Liaison office.

President Tinubu stated last week that the budget proposal aims to lower the cost of living for the average Nigerian and lower the costs of doing business for companies, while also addressing structural problems in the economy through the completion of important infrastructure projects.

Additionally, he stated that the proposed budget aims to reduce poverty and provide access to social security while promoting job-rich economic growth, macroeconomic stability, improved investment climate, and enhanced human capital development.

He stated, “Defence and internal security are accorded top priority. The internal security architecture will be overhauled to enhance law enforcement capabilities and safeguard lives, property and investments across the country.

“Human capital is the most critical resource for national development. Accordingly, the budget prioritises human development with particular attention to children, the foundation of our nation.”

In the proposed allocations, the Ministry of Works gets N521.3bn, followed by the Federal Ministry of Finance with N519.9bn, while N308 2bn is earmarked for the Ministry of Defence.