Being a president comes with its perks, and so does working for the presidency. But for Nigeria, the lines between officeholders’ satisfaction and taxpayers’ contribution continue to blur.
- Presidency meal-rated spend increased by over 100 percent in 2021;
- State house headquarters alone increased by 137.8% to ₦380,812,614;
- Global Hunger Index ranks Nigeria 93 out of 117 countries;
- The president of the United States pays for meals for himself, his family, and personal guests.
If there were ever any doubts over the prevailing sectarianism between leaders and the Nigerian people, look to the 2021 budget and you’ll find your answers.
Once again, the Presidency places its welfare and indulgence above citizens’ needs, genuine needs. According to the 2021 Appropriation Bill presented to the National Assembly, the Buhari-led administration allocated ₦906,055,534 for food and refreshment; this is 151% higher than the ₦360,910,407 budgeted for the same items in 2020.
More so, this comes amid a rising number of Nigerian households taking out loans since the lockdown in mid-March to purchase foodstuffs. Not to mention the world bank warning of global extreme poverty.
What’s even scarier is that when you spread this cost over 365 days, it amounts to ₦2.4 million per day for the Presidency’s feeding.
Budget breakdown for the Executive
Breakdown of the figure shows the State House headquarters headed by permanent secretary, Tijuana Umar, will spend over ₦380 million for food in 2021. In contrast, the budget for skill acquisition and youth empowerment is ₦200 million; this arts and craft initiative not only aims to reduce hunger and poverty, but spans across the six geopolitical zones. And despite Nigeria accounting for 25% of the world’s malaria burden, the feeding budget for the state houses topples the allocation for malaria rated programmes under the ministry of health.
Similarly, the State House headquarters budgeted ₦135,668,651, for refreshment and meals. And ₦245,143,963 was for food stuff / catering materials. This, however, excludes the ₦25 million allocation for refreshment and the ₦98 million set aside for catering materials.
For Vice President, State House operations will gulp ₦18 million on meals and catering supplies next year.
The 2021 Appropriation bill further assigned ₦4.5 million to the office of the chief of staff to the president- also for feeding. Likewise, the State House Lagos liaison office will spend ₦4.2 million on meals and food items.
Compared to this year’s ₦27.3 million budget for feeding, the Secretary to the Government of the federation headquarters almost tripled that figure (₦60 million) for 2021.
The story is the same across other echelons of the presidency
Implications to the economy
Over 40% of households in Nigeria, earn less than ₦137,000 per annum. This is according to a National Bureau of Statistics’ surveys. And by implication, these households on average take home ₦11,000 per month, which is lower than the minimum wage of ₦30,000. Lower than a 50kg Bag of Rice estimated at ₦25,000.
Recall, the 2020 Global Hunger Index, ranked Nigeria 98th out of the 107 countries with a score of 29.2. The annual GHI scores assess progress and setbacks in combating hunger. And with a score of 29.2, Nigeria’s level of hunger is worrisome.
The severity of hunger associated with the range of GHI scores is:
- Low ≤ 9.9.
- Moderate 10.0-19.9.
- Serious 20.0-34.9.
- Alarming 35.0-49.9.
- Extremely alarming ≥ 50.0.
Meanwhile, President Buhari, earlier stated the next 3 years of his administration will lay the foundation to help lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. He made this commitment on video during a high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly on poverty eradication.
But as we’ve stated before, promises and implementation are two different things. Early this year, Dataphyte reported how the government could have repurposed the ₦37.7 Billion on 284 items in the 2020 budget for Economic Emergency.
Lessons from the West
In 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari’s first budget allocation on meal related items was ₦ 445.5 million and has continued to increase yearly. And to be honest, these allocations ought to raise concern.
But don’t just take it hook-line-and-sinker; look to the United States, from which Nigeria has modelled her democracy. In the US, the first Family pays for their own household expenses. Although, the government still pays the white house chefs who often prepare the president’s meals.
Again, a Guardian UK publication reported how US President Barack Obama once paid out-of-pocket expenses from a thanksgiving service in the whitehouse.
What do you think? Is it right that yearly presidency meal related expenses continue to take up a sizable portion of the budget?
UPDATE: this story was edited from: “if there were ever any doubts over the prevailing sectarianism in the country, look to the 2021 budget and you’ll find your answers.” To: “if there were ever any doubts over the prevailing sectarianism between leaders and the Nigerian people, look to the 2021 budget and you’ll find your answers.” The Editor enacted the change so as to avoid any misconception to inciting remarks.