By Jonathan Ugbal
The vehicles belonging to Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade will be maintained with N40 million in 2019 findings by CrossRiverWatch reveal.
The figure is contained in the 2019 budget of the State. The budget estimates obtained by CrossRiverWatch show that the provision is under the budget head, ‘Maintenance Repairs And Services’ which appears twice.
In the duplicate budget head which is in page 541, his vehicles will be maintained with the sum of N4 million.
The first appearance in page 539 has a total provision of N620 million while the second has a total provision of N14,666,800.
In the first appearance, N400 million was earmarked for ‘other services’. This item is not found on the budget head in page 541.
But, the maintenance of office furniture, office equipment, computer and IT equipment and office building appear twice just as motor vehicle maintenance.
The quartet have provisions of N6.66 million, N30 million, N3.33 million and N20 million respectively in page 539.
In page 541, the sums N666,700, N2 million, N1.33 million and N6.66 million respectively.
The figures remained unchanged from the 2018 budget except ‘other services’ which was appropriated N500 million.
Other items that make up the N620 million expenditure in page 539 are the maintenance of plant and generator at N100 million and maintenance of ‘other infrastructure’ at N20 million.
This is despite the fact that N9 billion was budgeted for the fueling of diesel generators while N500 million was also earmarked for the renovation of the Governors office building.
Also, under the budget head “Government House Calabar,” these items are still listed with sums which means the items have triple sources for funds in the 2019 budget, a scenario that repeats itself from the 2018 budget.