A total sum of N1.22 billion will be spent by the Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and his Deputy, Hon. Agboola Ajayi on donations, hosting of guests, refreshment as well the maintenance of the duo’s official vehicles and boats.
Recall that DAILY POST had on Tuesday last week reported how N270 million was budgeted for the governor and his deputy’s telephone charges and local travels allowance in the 2019 budget.
The breakdown of the amount, which was contained in the 2019 budget earlier signed into law by Akeredolu following its passage by the Ondo State House of Assembly, revealed that N500 million was budgeted to the governor’s office for the hosting of guests.
According to the budget obtained by DAILY POST, Akeredolu will also be spending N238 million on donations while his Deputy gets N50 million for the same purpose.
The documents obtained from the state’s Budget Office also put the cost of refreshment and meals of the Governor for 2019 at N150 million with his Deputy getting N25 million.
As also seen in the budget, the maintenance of the governor’s official vehicles will gulp the sum of N53 million as N10 million was earmarked for the Deputy Governor’s vehicles.
N14 million was also provided for the maintenance of the governor’s boats this year.
In the budget, the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Bamidele Oleyeloogun and his Deputy, Hon. Iroju Ogundeji will also get N26 million on vehicle maintenance as well as N18 on refreshment.
Meanwhile, a look at the budget of the Ondo State House of Assembly, which was prepared separately from office of the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker shows that the sum of N24 million was budgeted for the maintenance of convoy vehicles aside the already budgeted sum of N26 million for the maintenance of the Speaker and his Deputy’s vehicles.
As regards donations and gift items, the Ondo State House of Assembly will also be spending sum of N140 million on gift items and donations.
A check by DAILY POST revealed that amount budgeted for donations, vehicle maintenance, hosting of guests as well as on refreshment and meals in the 2018 budget was no difference from what was approved in the 2019 budget.
Governor Akeredolu had in February signed into law the 2019 appropriation bill with a sum of N193 billion following the passage of the bill in law by the state’s House of Assembly, which had increased the budget by N3billion.
