How Ex-SGF Anyim’s office gulped N930m on software

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) yesterday revealed that the office of the Secretary to the Federal Government was allocated about N930 million for acquisition of computer software between 2012 and 2015.
He was reviewing the nation’s budgets, and lamented that poor budgeting over the years had hampered the country’s growth.
Abaribe highlighted huge inconsistencies in budgetary processes and duplication of subheads which accounted for poor implementation.
Speaking in Benin, the Edo State capital, while delivering the 2015 Faculty of Social Sciences Annual Lecture of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Abaribe said the office of the SGF had N1.223 billion as welfare package, with N580 million voted for subscription to professional bodies in the 2015 budget.
He spoke on the topic “Our Country, our budget: A critical analysis of Nigerians budgeting system”.
One-time Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim is the immediate past occupant of the office.
Abaribe said: “I begin with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. What could justify the allocation of N1.223 billion to that office for welfare packages? The same office also has N367.715 million for subscription to professional bodies and N580 million for computer software acquisition.
“A breakdown of the money appropriated in the last four years indicates that in 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition, yet the sub head appeared again, gulping N100 million while the sum of N580 million was budgeted for the same expenditure.
“Computer software in this case constitutes a veritable sink holes for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) seeking to pillage the treasury.

Read also: Ex-SGF, Anyim bought Centenary City for N1.2bn, Ojougbo alleges

“Still on this office, let’s take time to examine this computer software acquisition. In 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software acquisition. In 2013, the subhead appeared again, gulping N100 million. Now in 2014, N580 million was appropriated for it.
“What is this computer software that a particular office acquires every year? Which privately-owned company acquires computer software to the tune of N100 million – and more – every year?
“If you check the budget for every MDA of the Federal Government, you will see identical provisions for computers, software and consumables year in year out.”
According to the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Sam Edo, the lectures are to foster interactions between the government and the governed through the requisite exposition thereby making learning pleasurable.
Senator Abaribe graduated from the faculty 30 years ago.

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