2022 budget laced with fake items to defraud Nigerians – Says Dino Melaye

2022 budget laced with fake items to defraud Nigerians – Says Dino Melaye

Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melalye has alleged that the Federal Government is using the 2022 budget to defraud Nigerians.

Recall that President Muhammadu Buhari had presented a budget proposal of N16.39 trillion for the year 2022 to the Joint Session of the National Assembly in October.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Dino claimed that the budget was full of fake items running into billions of naira.

Dino alleged the 2022 budget was full of corruption, wondering why the FIRS budget would be more than the National Assembly and the judiciary.

He said the FIRS budget stood at N228 billion while the National Assembly budget was pegged at N134 billion and N120 billion was proposed for the judiciary.

He said, “In the FIRS 2022 budget proposal, the tax body earmarked N2.5bn for the purchase of land, N3 billion for office furniture, N1.5 billion for photocopying machines, N2.04 billion for computers, and N500 million for the construction of sports facilities. The agency set aside N1 billion for generator fuel and N250 million for maintenance while a separate N550 million was set aside for purchasing more generators.

“How on earth can the FIRS budget sum of N2.8 billion for “uniforms and clothing” for the year 2022 and in defence, the FIRS Chairman through his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, Johannes Wojuola, had the guts to say that the word “uniform” is the corporate outfit (dressing allowance) to be enjoyed by all the staff…”

“Is it the Presidency? The Presidency proposed budget for 2022 stands at N150.5bn and the sum of 24.8 billion was budgeted for the President. It was budgeted that the President will spend the sum of N775.6 million for his local travel and transport while the sum of N1.5 billion will be spent on international travel and transport (No wonder Mr President is traveling up and down).

“The 2022 budget of the Vice President stands at N1.1 billion. The Vice President is to spend the sum of 301.9 million for his local travel and transport while the sum of N476.2 million will be spent on international travel and transport. N6.3 million will be spent on office stationeries/computer consumables, the sum of N4.6 million will be spent on printing non-security documents.

“The Vice President foodstuff/catering material supplies stand at N156.6 million. Miscellaneous is N99.7 million, Refreshment and Meals is earmarked 20.2 million while Honorarium and sitting allowance is N30.2 million. The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is to spend N18.8 million on publicity and advertisement, N23.2 million on welfare packages, and N5.4 million on sporting activities.”

2022 budget laced with fake items to defraud Nigerians – Says Dino Melaye