FG Suspends New Capital Projects In State House

Federal Government has suspended the execution of new capital projects in the State House, Abuja in 2017.

Mr. Jalal Arabi, Permanent Secretary, State House, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja when members of the House of Representatives Committee on Special Duties paid oversight visit to the residence of the President.

He explained that the decision to suspend the execution of new capital projects was informed by the fact that the 2017 budget made no provision for new capital projects.

He said the 2017 capital expenditure would be used in completing ongoing projects, adding that the management of State House had re-prioritised its projects.

Arabi said that the management would take advantage of the window provided by supplementary budget when necessary.

He said that the 2017 budget of the State House had been reviewed downwards to N13,567,979,278.72 from N16,563,395,992.00 in 2016.

Arabi, who revealed that only N5.196 billion was released as capital allocation in the 2016 budget, said the amount represented 47.5 per cent of the total budget.

According to the Permanent Secretary, the recurrent expenditure of N4.8 billion, representing 93.1per cent, have been released and expended on projects for which the funds were tied.

“All allocations for the 2016 recurrent expenditure have been received up to date including the month of December 2016.

“On the other hand, capital releases were made for three out of five subheads in the State House budget

“A balance of N5.745 billion representing 52.5 percent is yet to be released,’’ he said.

Arabi said that while State House headquarters, State House Medical Centre and State House Lagos liaison office received releases, no releases were made for the Chief of Staff and the Office of the Chief Security Officer to the President.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Alhaji Nasiru Zango-Daura, said that criticisms often leveled against the administration of the State House especially in respect of the State House Medical Centre were unfounded.

He said that the management of State House should be commended for judicious use of the resources released to it.

He urged the public to appreciate the fact that the services rendered at the medical centre were free.

“With the resources they have, and the ability to keep the machines running 24/7 with diesel power; that is something they should be commended for.

“They are being prudent and using the meagre resources they have to sustain the equipment,’’ he said.

Zango-Daura promised that he would inform the committee on Appropriation on the need to increase budgetary allocation to State House Medical Centre.

Receiving members of the committee, the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, expressed appreciation to the members for coming to perform their responsibility as elected representatives of the people.

He noted that since the State House was built with public funds and not the personal property of its occupant, it was the duty of committee members to ensure that it is properly maintained.

(NAN)