President Tinubu, Shettima Allocated Over N9bn for Travels, Refreshments in 2025 Budget
The 2025 Appropriation Bill presented by President Bola Tinubu to the National Assembly has earmarked over N9.36 billion for travel and refreshments for the President and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
According to details from the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the President is allocated N7.44 billion, including N6.14 billion for international travel, N873.9 million for domestic trips, and N431.6 million for catering and refreshments.
Vice President Shettima’s budget amounts to N1.9 billion, comprising N1.31 billion for foreign travel, N417.5 million for local trips, and N186.02 million for refreshments and meals.
The budget also includes N4.76 billion for vehicle purchases. This allocation covers N3.66 billion for operational vehicles for the State House and N1 billion for replacing Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs).
Another N864.1 million is set aside for purchasing SUVs for the President and Vice President, while an equivalent amount is allocated to the Presidential Conference Car Unit’s operational fleet.
Additional allocations in the budget amount to N5.93 billion for honorariums, allowances, fuel for generators, and the construction of an office complex for Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants. Notably, N2.12 billion is allocated for sitting allowances and honorariums, N1.99 billion for fuel, and N1.83 billion for the office complex.
These allocations have sparked widespread public criticism amid Nigeria’s challenging economic environment. Citizens have questioned the justification for such expenditures when pressing issues like inflation, unemployment, and inadequate infrastructure persist.
Data from GovSpend, a civic tech platform, reveals that between January and March 2024, Tinubu, Shettima, and First Lady Remi Tinubu collectively spent over N5.24 billion on travel alone.
While the administration has dubbed the N49.7 trillion budget the “Restoration Budget: Securing Peace and Building Prosperity,” critics argue that such allocations undermine the government’s commitment to fiscal discipline. Calls have mounted for the National Assembly to scrutinize the budget and ensure more judicious use of public funds.
