Buhari approves site for State House clinic

The site for the Presidential Wing of the State House Clinic within the Aso Villa precinct has been approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

During its oversight function, the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Intergovernmental Affairs visited the site to determine the level of utilisation of budgetary allocations to State House.

Umar Tijjani, the Permanent Secretary of the State House, told members of the Senate committee that when the new wing of the State House Clinic is finished, it will serve the Nigerian people.

He stated that the state-of-the-art facility would primarily serve the president, vice president, and their families, as well as other government officials’ medical requirements.

The health project, he claims, will be completed within the next two years, before the end of the Buhari presidency.

Umar, on the other hand, bemoaned the fact that some of the amenities at the nation’s seat of power had grown antiquated, and that the non-release of financial allocation to State House in full had become an issue.

He added that just around N5.083 billion (58%) of the N8.699 billion budgeted for State House in the 2018 fiscal year was disbursed, leaving an outstanding balance of nearly N3.616 billion.

Umar told the committee that in 2019, just about N2 billion of the N6.955 billion budgeted was released, accounting for 38% of the total sum, while in 2020, the sum of N4.878 billion was appropriated and totally released.

The permanent secretary, who also took questions from State House reporters, stated that the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the economy.

“First and first, let me say that we are honored to be in this position, to be able to discharge these enormous responsibilities, and I’m also delighted that you highlighted the matter of financial challenges,” he said.

“I also want to use the opportunity to distinguish very clearly between appropriation and release.

“Just like you mentioned now, in 2018, about N8 billion was appropriated, out of which only about N5 billion was released,” he said.