By Egena Sunday Ode
President Bola Tinubu did not make any request for a presidential yacht in the 2023 supplementary budget, his media aide, Tope Ajayi, has clarified.
Ajayi, therfore, urged the budget office to provide a transparent explanation to the public regarding such expenditures, particularly in light of the country’s economic situation.
The budget also included N2.9 billion for sport utility vehicles for the Presidential Villa and an additional N2.9 billion for the replacement of operational vehicles for the presidency.
Addressing the criticisms surrounding these allocations, Ajayi in a piece expressed skepticism about whether President Tinubu required a presidential yacht to fulfill the functions of his office.
He clarified that the request for a yacht came from the Navy, which likely had operational reasons justifying its inclusion in the budget.
He noted that one of the challenges with the budgeting system is the simplistic manner in which some line items are described by civil servants preparing the budget, which can lead to misunderstanding
Ajayi emphasized the importance of responsible journalism, stating that reporting should enrich public understanding rather than creating a sense of siege.
He criticized the tendency to attribute State House budgetary provisions solely to the President and Vice Presiden.
