Federal government to buy N400m vehicles for Obasanjo, Jonathan others .

The Federal Government will spend N400m on the purchase of vehicles for the nation's former heads of government and their deputies in 2017.The figure formed part of the N9.882bn budgeted for the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for the year. .According to the details of the 2017 Appropriation Bill currently before the National Assembly obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, N280.099m was budgeted for the purchase of vehicles for seven former Presidents and Heads of State. .

Further details showed that N120.090m would be used to procure vehicles for four former Vice-Presidents and ex-Chiefs of General Staff. 

The nation's seven living former heads of government include Gen. Yakubu Gowon (retd.); Chief Olusegun Obasanjo,  Alhaji Shehu Shagari; Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (retd.); Chief Ernest Shonekan; Gen. Abdusalami Abubakar (retd.); and former President Goodluck Jonathan. .

The four living former Vice-Presidents and ex-Chiefs of General Staff are former Vice-President Alex Ekwueme; Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (retd.); Gen. Oladipo Diya (retd.), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar  and former Vice-President Namadi Sambo. .

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The budget details did not indicate the number of vehicles that would be bought for each of the former leaders. The brands of the vehicles were also not disclosed.Apart from the leaders, the office of the SGF will also buy N32m vehicles for offices and units in the office. .

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The government will also spend a total of N170m on the nation's Independence Day and Democracy Day celebrations.While Nigeria's Democracy Day holds every May 29, Independence Day holds every October 1. .

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Both ceremonies have not been marked lavishly since the inception of the present administration.