FG budgets N70m for independence celebrations

President Muhammadu Buhari approved the sum of N70million for the celebration of the country’s 55th independence anniversary.

Babachir Lawal, secretary to the government of the federation, disclosed this to journalists in Abuja on Tuesday.

Represented by the permanent secretary in the office of the secretary to the government of the federation, Lawal said the measure was in line with the cost-saving policy of the government.

“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 N70million,” he said.

“This year’s celebration is, therefore, in consonance with the cost-saving policy of this administration.”

He said it took a while to get Buhari to approve the amount for the entire anniversary programme.

He added that the government would rather spend more money on ensuring payment of workers’ salaries, better learning business environment than on anniversary celebrations.

However, he said the president had approved four events for the anniversary.

He listed the events as Jummat prayers, slated to hold at the Abuja national mosque on September 25, the inter-denominational thanksgiving service holding at the Abuja national christian worship centre on September 27.

Other events are the ceremonial change of guards slated for October 1 at the presidential villa and children’s party on October 3.

He said the children’s party, which would hold at the presidential villa, would be attended by children within the ages of five to 13 and that some children from internally displaced camps would also be in attendance.