FED GOVT VOTES N47.5B FOR PROMOTION, SALARY ARREARS

Contractors are  to get some relief in the new year, with the Federal Government voting N5.5 billion for their payment. They are being owed a fortune.

 Workers too are expected to smile. About N47.5billion is allocated to arrears of promotion and salary increase in the budget.

But the National Assembly has its fund slashed.

According to a summary of the 2016 budgetary allocations to MDAs released yesterday by the Budget Office of the Federation, the National Assembly had a cut in its 2016 allocation from N120 billion in 2015 to N115 billion in 2016.

Others that will draw from the N351,370,000,000 statutory transfer envelope of the 2016 budget are: National Judicial Council: N70,000,000,000; Niger Delta Development Commission, N41,050,000,000; Universal Basic Education  N77,110,000,000; Public Complaints Commission, N2,000,000,000; Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC): N45,000,000,000 and National Human Rights Commission, N1,210,000,000.

The Presidency will spend N 39,124,978,811 for both capital and recurrent expenditures. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) is to spend N90,350,068,052 on capital and recurrent expenses.

An official of the Budget Office told The Nation that the office was waiting for the final 2016 Appropriation Bill to be passed and signed before making public the details of the budget.

Other items contained in the summary of the 2016 appropriation submitted to the National Assembly on Tuesday by President Muhammadu Buhari include: Federal Initiative for Northeast (Pilot Counterpart Funding Contribution): N12,000,000,000; payment of local contractors’ debts: N5,500,000,000; Galaxy Backbone: N3,000,000,000; refunds to states for federal roads projects: N5,005,000,000; financing of the implementation of the Nigeria’s nuclear power programme (The Seed Money): N2,000,000,000 and matching grant for the “Safe School Inititiative” programme: N1,600,000,000.

For Service Wide Vote usually domiciled in the Ministry of Finance until captured MDAs request for the release of the funds, training of budget/planning officers on GIFMIS Budget Preparation System (BPS) as well as monitoring and evaluation of all projects nationwide will draw N1,000,000,000 in 2016; Operation Lafiya Dole for combating Boko Haram has been allocated N10,000,000,000; IPPIS capturing: N5,000,000,000; special intervention (recurrent): N300,000,000,000.

Under the Presidential Amnesty Programme,  N20,000,000,000 has been earmarked for 2016;  Stipends and Allowances oF 30,000 Niger Delta ex-militants expected to take N7,875,000,000;  operational cost: N1,834,149,261 and Presidential Amnesty Programme: reintegration of transformed ex-militants: N10,290,850,739.

The National Job Creation Scheme/Graduate Intership Scheme programme is estimated to cost N4,000,000,000; and Quick Wins – Completion of 2008 & 2009 projects: N527,259,306.

Other components of the Service Wide Vote include: NELMCO (outstanding liabilities) N3,000,000,000; bulk trader N3,432,000,000; sinking fund for infrastructural development N20,000,000,000; special initiative for women participation in agriculture, water, sport, communication technology/partnership with states and local govt. women development centres N1,500,000,000 and GIFMIS capital: N1,000,000,000.

Others are 2011 election violence and civil disturbances (damage done to public properties and places of worships) N2,500,000,000; sports development N2,000,000,000; special intervention MDG’s (verification of assets and liabilities) N1,468,267,215; transition to sustainable development goals: N1,109,037,225; provision for sdg programmes N5,378,044,922; SDG monitoring and evaluation N1,581,777,918; consultancy, survey and short term studies N474,533,376; communication and advocacy (SDG) N427,080,038; federal ministry of finance: special programme for improving efficiency N500,000,000; capital exigencies N12,500,000,000; capital development of National Institute for Legislative Studies N2,000,000,000; National Assembly clinic N1,000,000,000; Ministry of Budget and National Planning (infrastructure master plan) N500,000,000; Nigeria Mortgage Refinancing Company (NMRC) N2,000,000,000; Head of Service (Federal Government Staff Housing Loans Board) N1,000,000,000; special intervention/constituency projects N60,000,000,000; payment of outstanding death benefit to civil servants N500,000,000; payment into the redemption fund (5% of total personnel cost) including arrears of 2014 and 2015 N50,195,808,918; arrears of police death benefits (2004 – 2010) N3,750,000,000; group life insurance for all MDAs including DSS N14,690,036,516; Armed Forces Enhanced Retirement Benefits of Commodores and above etc. N1,000,000,000; severance benefits of the Delta Steel Company/Pension pay-off N2,795,000,000; NHIS (Military Retirees) N2,544,110,811; administration and monitoring of (OHCSF) Group Life N36,000,000; pension verification and administration N200,000,000; entitlements of former presidents/heads of state and vice-presidents/chiefs of general staff N2,300,000,000; public service reforms (including payment of severance benefits of civil servants) N1,500,000,000.

Other service-wide votes that will cost N465,060,000,000 include: improved remuneration package for the Nigerian Police, including 2014 and 2015 shortfalls N10,255,000,000; 35th annual general meeting and symposium of shelter- Afrique in Nigeria in June, next N400,000,000; public service wage adjustment for MDAs (including arrears of promotion and salary increases) N47,597,400,000; outstanding payments to health professionals: N5,000,000,000; operations – internal for the Armed Forces N15,000,000,000; contribution to international organisations including WAEC International N6, 000,000,000; payment of country contributions to PAN – AFRICAN WRITERS ASSOCIATION (PAWA) N208,000,000; assessed contribution to African union and others N3,500,000,000 and external financial obligations N8,500,000,000.