Jonathan Further Adjusts 2010 Budget …Proposes N6.7bn For “Nigeria @ 50” Celebrations

Cross section of the family of late Chief Anthony Egobueze, former Chairman, Rivers State Civil Service Commission, who was murdered at his residence last month, during the service of songs at Civic Centre, Port Harcourt, on Wednesday. Photo: Chris Monyanaga

.President Goodluck Jonathan still in a bid to blend the 2010 Budget with current economic realities has requested the National Assembly to revise the revenue framework of the 2010 Appropriation Act further considering the current assumptions for oil production and the oil benchmark price which have nosedived, making the figures unrealistic.

President Jonathan in a letter to the senate President, David Mark also requested the Senate to effect a technical review of the vote for Nigeria @ 50 celebrations to N6.9 billion and further adjust the recent downward review proposed by him in the N4.6 trillion budget for 2010, seeking a slight increase from the N4.206 trillion he earlier proposed in the Budget Amendment Bill to N4.220 trillion while reducing the aggregate federal revenue projection from N2.392 trillion to N1.829 trillion.

According to Mr. President, indications from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), shows that oil production for the fiscal year has come down to 2.2 million barrels per day from assumptions of 2.25 million bpd in the last amendment. A benchmark of US$60 per barrel was also proposed instead of the US$67 per barrel in the current 2010 appropriation Act.

For a downward review of the allocation for Nigeria @ 50 celebrations, some items proposed earlier were dropped . These include N540 million initially provided for designing and mounting of tower of unity in the 36 states of the federation; N200 million for compendium for the legislature and the judiciary; N80 million earmarked for designing of monuments for founding fathers as well as N10 million for commissioning of Golden Jubilee Plaza.

The further adjustment in the 2010 amendment Bill as requested by President Jonathan affects the allocations of eight (8) Ministeries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) as a result of reprioritization of capital projects by the State House, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Airforce, the intelligence community and the Ministries of Aviation, Health, the Federal Capital and Foreign Affairs.

The recent proposal for adjustments in the budget indicates the movement of some items to core capital budget . These include N2.250 billion meant for the renovation of Abuja International Airport; N215 million voted for renovation work in the state house banquet hall; N120 million for works on the National Stadium and N97 million for replacement of carpet at the International Conference Center (ICC), Abuja.

Mr. President proposed the release of N8.5 billion to finance skill training programme for non- militant youths in the Niger Delta region as well as N1.7 billion for 2009 shortfall in the expenditures for Nigerian foreign missions.

“The allocations to some projects (8) eight MDAs have been reviewed downwards, or completely dropped in certain cases. These MDAs are the Secretary to Federation, the Ministry of Information and Communication, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and National Orientation, the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Aviation, the National Planning Commission and the National Assembly office,

“Additional funds are required by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the posting and movement of ambassadors and diplomatic staff which are crucial aspects of the ministries statutory responsibilities and “Additional funds are required by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to commence training programmes for non-millitant Niger Delta youths,” the letter read in parts.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja