Fashola in Spending Spree, Budgets N77.7bn for His Office In 2015

*N1.84 Bn to Fuel Government Vehicles

The Lagos State Government has budgeted a whooping sum of N77.7 billion as running cost for the Office of Governor Babatunde Fashola the 2014 fiscal year. The outrageous sum is clearly hidden and meant for personal pockets as there are

np breakdown on how the money will be spent, rather it is simply named ‘operational cost (Executive).

It has also emerged that Lagos State Government is currently indebted to the tune of N435 billion as at the end of 2013. The State debt figure had been shrouded in secrecy with some estimates saying it's nearing a trillion Naira.

Other parts of the budget which may leave the state in debt after his tenure includes a mouth staggering sum of N1.84 billion just to fuel the over 300 official vehicles in the state, while their local travel expenses will swallow N899.9 million.

The government buildings are to be maintained with N477.8 million whereas subvention for the state tertiary institution is billed to take N10.02 billion. All these expenses are under the overhead cost which has other outrageous spending to the tune of N146.7 billion.

Mere stationeries for the various state ministries, departments and agencies will be smiling into private pockets for N567 million, while the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) will have N5 billion to play with. The sum of N444.8 million is budgeted for Management Information System/ Information Communication Technology, ICT, a name which simply means Social Media.

The total payment of staff salaries and allowances  which is far more than government house expenditure is pegged at N71.4 billion, while an unnamed utility allowance is penciled down for N902 million. The Lagos State Metropolitan Area Authority (LAMATA) will have in their coffer N3.76 billion as their transport fund, while protective covering and new uniforms to be sewed for the government para-military outfits like KAI, LASTMA and Neighbourhood Watch will see the contractor smiling to the bank with N145 million.

The debt owing governor has earmarked N23.3 billion to settle the state debt, with external debt loans going for N922 million, while internal debts will be settles with N22.243 billion.

The State Deputy Governor’s Office has a budget of N779.3 million to spend for the running of its affairs.