Senate President’s office receives N100bn annual budget 

August 2, 2023Patrick AhanorPolitics0

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A former Senate Chairman on Public Accounts, Mr. Matthew Urhoghide, has claimed that over N100 billion is budgeted yearly to the office of the Senate President, adding that the figure is more than some states estimates.

This was even as the Senator disclosed that the latter is in addition entitled to about 300 aides.

Urhoghide stated this while expressing his reservations over his loss at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) primary where he sought the party’s ticket to return to the Senate for the third time.

The politician who represented Edo South senatorial district at the upper legislative chamber disclosed this while presenting a compendium of his stewardship to journalists in Benin City, Edo state.

According to him, “because of my records at the Senate, people ganged up to say this Urhoghide must not go back to the Senate.

“Is Akpabio not the Senate President now. This is what we were thinking of. It is not out of ambition, it’s because Senate President will go to South-South.

“As Senate President and number three person in Nigeria, the budget is more than a state budget, he has over a N100 billion and over 300 aides.

“I only had five aides. When I had over N10 million for solar street light in my budget, Senate President has over N100 billion.

“Oshiomhole and others are first timers. They can’t have a shot at Senate President but people ganged up and stop me”.

Continuing, Urhoghide, who recently dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said he will contest the Edo state 2024 guber poll on a party he intends to join.

He disclosed that his stewardship at the Senator stands him out, adding that he had handed out 367 scholarships to secondary and varsity students.