With just two days to October 1st,
President Muhammed Buhari has
approved ₦70 million for this year’s
independence celebration marking
Nigeria @55.
The ‘low key’ celebration, according to
the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Babachir Lawal, is
unconnected with the dwindling
fortunes of the nation’s revenue
generation.
Represented by his Permanent
Secretary, the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation said the
President reluctantly approved the ₦70
m after complaining that he would have
preferred the money is diverted for the
payment of workers’ salaries.
Lawal said the president had argued
that the money was too much to be
spent on frivolities such as celebrations
when Nigerians are grappling to survive
the present day economic stress.
He further explained that “this year’s
celebration is, indeed low key because
the present administration appreciates
the economic hardship that Nigerians
and the nation is confronted with today
and he almost slashed it downward
from ₦70m”.
“To address the situation, government
has adopted a general policy to be very
prudent in the management of our
financial resources, so this year’s
celebration is, therefore, in consonance
with the cost-saving policy direction of
this administration”.
Towards a successful celebration the
SGF said “four events have been
approved by the president to manage
the entire celebration process”.
“The events are: Jumat prayers,
international thanksgiving service,
ceremonial change of guards and a
children’s party”.
“Apart from these four events the
president will also address the nation
on Oct 1”.
“To ensure a successful
commemoration, four sub-committees
have been constituted to handle the
preparations for each of the four
events”.
President Muhammed Buhari has
approved ₦70 million for this year’s
independence celebration marking
Nigeria @55.
The ‘low key’ celebration, according to
the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Babachir Lawal, is
unconnected with the dwindling
fortunes of the nation’s revenue
generation.
Represented by his Permanent
Secretary, the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation said the
President reluctantly approved the ₦70
m after complaining that he would have
preferred the money is diverted for the
payment of workers’ salaries.
Lawal said the president had argued
that the money was too much to be
spent on frivolities such as celebrations
when Nigerians are grappling to survive
the present day economic stress.
He further explained that “this year’s
celebration is, indeed low key because
the present administration appreciates
the economic hardship that Nigerians
and the nation is confronted with today
and he almost slashed it downward
from ₦70m”.
“To address the situation, government
has adopted a general policy to be very
prudent in the management of our
financial resources, so this year’s
celebration is, therefore, in consonance
with the cost-saving policy direction of
this administration”.
Towards a successful celebration the
SGF said “four events have been
approved by the president to manage
the entire celebration process”.
“The events are: Jumat prayers,
international thanksgiving service,
ceremonial change of guards and a
children’s party”.
“Apart from these four events the
president will also address the nation
on Oct 1”.
“To ensure a successful
commemoration, four sub-committees
have been constituted to handle the
preparations for each of the four
events”.
