The Plateau State Government has refuted allegations that a total of N3.9 billion, representing 47% of the capital expenditure budgeted, was allocated for the purchase of official vehicles in the first quarter of 2024.
Reacting to the publication, its Commissioner of Information and Communication, Musa Ashoms, said in reality, the N3.9 billion figure was part of the N152.8 billion total budgeted for this expenditure item for the entire year, representing approximately 2.5% of the first quarter of 2024.
He pointed out that the report in the media was a gross misrepresentation of the percentages involved, not just the first quarter, adding that the allocation for official vehicles in the first quarter of 2024 was only a fraction of the annual budget.
The state government enumerated that on assumption of office, Governor Caleb Mutfwang inherited a lack of functional official vehicles, adding that the previous administration left with all functional vehicles despite the Committee for the Recovery of Government Assets recommending their return.
He added that the governor used second-hand cars for nearly a year, and ministries, departments, and agencies of the government had no functional vehicles to operate effectively until the budgetary provisions for new vehicles were met.
“The procurement of vehicles was significantly influenced by the high inflation rate, which rose from 24.66% at the end of 2023 to 33.9% by the end of the first quarter of 2024.
Additionally, the exchange rate surged from N903 to N1,600 per dollar within the same period, greatly affecting the prices of imported goods, including vehicles.
“The state’s capital expenditure budget for the first quarter of 2024 encompassed a wide range of critical projects, including infrastructure development, healthcare improvements, and educational advancements.
“The expenditure on official vehicles is a necessary part of ensuring efficient operation and service delivery across various government departments, but it does not overshadow other essential capital projects”.
He explained that the procurement of official vehicles is part of a broader strategy to enhance the functionality and efficiency of state operations, which ultimately benefits the citizens, adding that all expenditures undergo rigorous scrutiny and are aligned with the state’s development goals.
