On Friday, Senator Ali Ndume, the Chief Whip of the Senate, came to the defense of the First Lady, Remi Tinubu, regarding the N1.5 billion allocated for vehicles for her office in the 2023 supplementary budget.
Ndume clarified that the request for the vehicles did not originate directly from the First Lady herself.
He said this while speaking on the review of the budgetary allocated for the vehicles for the Presidency on Arise Television’s Morning Show on Friday.
The senator said, “I don’t think that the First Lady personally requested for N1.5 billion luxurious vehicle because I know her personally. We have been in the Senate for 12 years, I don’t think that the first lady requested personally for luxurious vehicles.”
Speaking on whether the purchase of the vehicle for the First Lady was constitutional, the Chief Whip said he could not tell but added that the budget was for the Presidency and the First Lady is part of the Presidency.
He said, “The budget is for the Presidency and it includes the vehicles that the First Lady uses and others. I’m not in the position to defend that or argue on it. but I’m just saying that I know what the First Lady likes for either items or others.”
It should be noted that the Federal Government has earmarked N1.5 billion for the acquisition of vehicles for the Office of the First Lady.
This allocation is included in the approved ₦2.1 trillion supplementary budget for 2023 by the National Assembly.
A closer examination of the budget reveals that the government intends to allocate N2.9 billion for the purchase of Sport Utility Vehicles for the Presidential Villa, and an additional N2.9 billion for the replacement of operational vehicles for the Presidency.
