Our Vehicles Are 20 Years Old, We Must Replace Them - Perm Sec Tells National Assembly

State House Permanent Secretary, Jalal Ahmad Arabi. Photo: State House website

According to a report by Punch Metro, some of the vehicles used for daily operations in the State House were purchased as far back as 1999, Permanent Secretary in the State House, Jalal Arabi, has said

A statement issued in Abuja on Monday by the State House Deputy Director (Information), Attah Esa, said Arabi stated this when he led his management team to the National Assembly for the defence of the 2020 budget.

The Permanent Secretary also defended the State House budget proposals before the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-governmental Affairs.

Arabi, who appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Special Duties, said there was an urgent need to replace those vehicles as they have become very difficult to maintain.

He said, “With the release of funds in 2018, some of the vehicles, especially security vehicles, were replaced [and] spares purchased, but we are still nowhere near our optimal level since no vehicles were purchased this year (2019).

“The proposals are in line with our provisions in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan document, discussed and agreed with the Budget Office of the Federation, and is to be implemented over a three-year period.”

According to him, the sum of N6.569bn was proposed for capital expenditure, representing a 5.5 per cent reduction in the capital budget proposal for 2019 expenditure of the seat of government.

The chairman, House Committee on Special Duties, Samaila Suleiman, while expressing satisfaction with the presentation, assured that the committee would carefully consider it.