The presidency has allocated N9.36 billion for local and international travel as well as refreshments for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in the 2025 fiscal year.
This is outlined in the 2025 Appropriation Bill released by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
The proposed budget, themed “Restoration Budget: Securing Peace and Building Prosperity,” was presented by President Tinubu to a joint session of the National Assembly. It includes N7.44 billion for the president’s travels and refreshments, while N1.9 billion is allocated for the vice president.
The breakdown shows that the president’s international travel will cost N6.14 billion, while local trips will consume N873.9 million. Refreshments, meals, and catering supplies for the president are budgeted at N431.6 million.
For Vice President Shettima, N1.31 billion is allocated for international travels, N417.5 million for local trips, and N186.02 million for refreshments and catering.
This allocation represents a significant increase compared to 2024, during which N5.24 billion was spent on travel between January and March alone, according to data from the GovSpend civic tech platform.
In addition, N4.76 billion has been proposed for vehicle purchases, including N3.66 billion for State House operational vehicles and N1 billion for replacing SUVs.
Another N255.7 million is allocated for additional vehicle purchases, including SUVs and operational cars for the Presidential Conference Car Unit.
The budget also earmarks N5.94 billion for honoraria, fuel, and office construction for Special Advisers (SAs) and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs). This includes N2.12 billion for honoraria, N1.99 billion for fuel, and N1.83 billion for constructing an office complex.
Meanwhile, the National Assembly has passed the N49.7 trillion budget for a second reading.
Both the Senate and the House of Representatives referred the bill to their respective Committees on Appropriations for further scrutiny.
Additionally, the House approved a bill to extend the capital component of the 2024 budget to June 30, 2025.
This extension allows continued implementation of capital projects under the 2024 budget.
Both chambers of the National Assembly have adjourned until January 14, 2025, for the festive season, with deliberations set to resume afterward.
