The claim by Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai that former President, Goodluck Jonathan spent N64b on Independence Day celebrations from 2011 to 2014 has been contradicted by the Federal Government.
On October 1st 2015, El-Rufai had in a Facebook post, praised Buhari's frugal N70m budget for this year's Independence Day celebrations while attacking Jonathan's lavish expenditures for the same purpose.
“This is the APC/PMB change we voted for. Independence anniversary expenditure for the past five years: 2011 – N13bn; 2012 -N15bn; 2013 –N14bn; 2014 – N22bn and 2015 -N70m coming from present administration,” he said on his timeline.
However, responding to a request by BudgIT Nigeria under the Freedom of Information Act, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said that the Jonathan administration had spent N332.6m on Independence Anniversary celebrations.
It added that Jonathan spent N1.7bn on the country’s 2010 golden jubilee celebration and N138,138,000 on the 2014 centenary honours awards.
In the response to BudgeIT's request headlined ‘Independence Day Celebration/Centenary Actual Expenditure from 2010 to 2015,’ the Director of Finance and Accounts, in the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mohammed Garba said ;
“With reference to your letter dated 2nd October, 2015 on the above subject matter, it is stated as follows:
“The 2010 (Golden Jubilee) – N1.7bn;
2011 (No release of funds); 2012 (53rd Independence Anniversary) – N107,600,000; 2013 (53rd Independence Anniversary) – N45,000,000; 2014 (54th Independence Anniversary) – N180,000,000; 2015 (55th Independence Anniversary) – N70,000,000.
“Please note that in 2013, Mr President approved the sum of N223,800,000 for the 53rd Independence Celebration, only N45,000,000 was released to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The sum ofN138,138,000 was released for centenary honours awards.”
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