Posted by By LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja on
Following the dust raised over the N1 billion budget proposal for the provision of new vehicles for ministers, special advisers and permanent secretaries, President Umaru Yar'Adua on Thursday ordered a halt in the purchase of the vehicles.
Following the dust raised over the N1 billion budget proposal for the provision of new vehicles for ministers, special advisers and permanent secretaries, President Umaru Yar'Adua on Thursday ordered a halt in the purchase of the vehicles.
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission had called the attention of the president to the fact that the provision of the vehicles, as approved, would be in breach of the 'certain political, public and judicial officers (salaries and allowances etc) Act No. 6 of 2002."
Subsequently, the Senator Smart Adeyemi-led Senate Committee on Federal Character and Governmental Affairs had queried the N1 billion budget proposal for the purchase of new vehicles, which the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, had made frantic effort to defend.
Kingibe, in his defence, had said that the ministers, special advisers and other top government officials would use the vehicles and return them to the pool after each use. He further affirmed that the purchase of the new vehicles did not amount to a reversal of the monetisation policy earlier introduced by the immediate past administration.
However, in a statement on Thursday, presidential spokesman, Mr. Segun Adeniyi, said President Yar'Adua, in keeping with his avowed commitment to uphold the rule of law at all times, had secured a vacation by the Federal Executive Council of its earlier approval for the purchase of the vehicles.
'Consequently, no official vehicles will now be purchased and dedicated to each minister, special adviser and permanent secretary as earlier approved," he pointed out.
As stipulated in the guidelines for the implementation of the Federal Government's monetization policy, Adeniyi said the relevant officials may continue to utilize pool vehicles in their respective ministries and agencies for the performance of their official duties.
President Yar'Adua, he said, had already communicated the decision to the Senate President, David Mark, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Dimeji Bankole and other relevant authorities.