The Federal Government has moved to dispel the controversy surrounding the inclusion of a presidential yacht in the 2023 Supplementary Budget. Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Bagudu, made this clarification during the closing ceremony of a three-day ministerial retreat in Abuja on Friday.
Bagudu firmly stated that the presidential yacht was not intended for the exclusive comfort of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He labeled the suggestion that the expenditure was allocated for President Tinubu’s leisure as “ridiculous” and noted that the budget amounted to 2.2 trillion Naira, with 95% of it being justifiable. He commended President Tinubu’s commitment to a modest and humble lifestyle, highlighting the former president’s contentment with his achievements and his lack of concern for personal comfort.
Bagudu’s statement comes in the wake of the House of Representatives’ decision to remove the controversial presidential yacht from the supplementary budget. The move by the House of Representatives reflects a broader debate surrounding government spending and the allocation of resources.
