Budget cuts have left the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) bemoaning the underfunding of its missions.
On Thursday, while conducting an oversight visit to the PAF’s base, Commandant Abubakar Abdulahi informed members of the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence of this.
The fleet’s budgetary allotments have not been enough to maintain the aircraft, according to the commandant, who was represented by Fleet Operational Officer Ahmed Dari.
In addition to pointing out that the fleet owes service providers money, he said that as of December 2021, only N12.5 billion of the N18.7 billion total budget that was filed in 2021 had been authorized in the Appropriations Act.
Dari added that the fleet had requested N19.4 billion in 2022, but only N12.4 billion was ultimately allowed.
“Let me also add that the majority of these loans are held by service providers in other countries. The actual budget figure in dollars is further reduced when you take into account that more than 85% of fleet expenditures are made in foreign currency, he added.
The committee’s chairman, Sha’aban Sharada, gave the fleet the reassurance that the legislators will take their problems into consideration.
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