In 2009, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved N7.1 billion for the design and construction of the VP’s house. Since then, the amount of money that has actually been spent on the house is unknown.
Just few days ago, a N9 billion request was made for the same ‘project.’ This time, the executive secretary of the Federal Capital Development Agency (FCDA), Adamu Ismail, said, “The additional N9 billion was needed to build a banquet hall, protocol guest house, two other guest houses and civil infrastructure, as well as to purchase furniture and install security gadgets.”
In addition, the Presidency has secured approval of the FEC for an additional N2.2 billion to build a 150 seat capacity banquet hall that will be used to host the president’s events.
Are our public officials oblivious to the suffering of the average Nigerian? Isn’t this the same Nigeria where over 60% of the population live on less than a dollar a day? Or have the poverty and the illiteracy rates improved in the North? Are the educational systems now better? Have the maternal and child mortality rates now improved? Don’t we still have many other problems? How many Nigerians will get to spend a night at the billion naira house? How many will be privileged to attend the President’s event at the N2.2bn worth banquet hall? Why then should so much money be spent?
The former FCT minister, Adamu Aliero, attempted to give an explanation when he was minister. He revealed that the VP has been living at the President’s guest house for visiting heads of state. The previous house where the VPs resided had to be given to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, as stipulated by the Abuja Master Plan. Aliero had said, “It is imperative for us to provide accommodation for the Vice-President. The Vice-President has no accommodation; certainly, you will agree with me that it is unbecoming for any government not to provide accommodation for its Vice-President. We will now embark on the construction of a befitting residence for the Vice-President.”
Is the VP homeless, like many other Nigerians? Isn’t he comfortable wherever he is now? Instead of spending so much money for the comfort of one man, can’t this project be suspended? The country has too many problems to deal with, and the VP can still ‘manage’.
We say kudos to the Senate Committee on the Federal Capital Territory for refusing to grant the proposed N9 billion. However, we disagree with Smart Adeyemi, the Chairman of the Senate committee on the Federal Capital Territory, when he said, “Fourteen billion Naira to me is huge for the Vice-President’s house. If you are even talking of N10bn that would be understandable.”
We cannot call the use of N10bn for one house understandable. This should not be condoned in a country that has numerous debts to settle. We should remember that this is not Namadi Sambo’s money; it is the nation’s.
This is a clear indication that political leadership positions are becoming way too lucrative, albeit, illegitimately. What happened to leadership for service? Not only is this immoral and unwise, it displays a stunning disconnect from reality. While the majority suffer in abject poverty, our leaders get comfortable with the nation’s money. Let the projects that require such outrageous amounts of money be suspended, and let’s fix the country first.
News Source: The Punch (5 December 2012), The Nation (7 December 2012).
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