El-Rufai, in a Facebook post on October 1, had hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly budgeting N70m for this year’s Independence Day anniversary celebration.
In 2010, Jonathan spent N10bn for Nigeria’s golden jubilee celebration, el-Rufai had said.
He added, “This is the APC/PMB change we voted for. Independence anniversary expenditure for the past five years: 2011 – N13bn; 2012 -N15bn; 2013 – N14bn; 2014 – N22bn and 2015 -N70m coming from present administration.”
But in contrast to el-Rufai’s claim, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, in response to a Freedom of Information request by BudgIT Nigeria, noted that the Jonathan administration had spent N332.6m for the anniversary celebrations.
It further noted that N1.7bn was spent on the country’s 2010 golden jubilee celebration and N138,138,000 on the centenary honours awards in 2014.
In the letter titled ‘Independence Day celebration/centenary actual expenditure from 2010 to 2015,’ the Director, Finance and Accounts, in the Permanent Secretary’s office, Mohammed Garba, said, “With reference to your letter dated 2nd October, 2015 on the above subject matter, it is stated as follows:
“2010 (Golden Jubilee) – N1.7bn; 2011 (No release of funds); 2012 (53rd Independence Anniversary) – N107,600,000; 2013 (53rd Independence Anniversary) – N45,000,000; 2014 (54th Independence Anniversary) – N180,000,000; 2015 (55th Independence Anniversary) – N70,000,000).
“Please note that in 2013, Mr President approved the sum of N223,800,000 for the 53rd Independence Celebration, only N45,000,000 was released to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. The sum of N138,138,000 was released for centenary honours awards.”