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By Uche Usim
The State House Medical Centre, sporting equipment and central gymnasium have been allocated N999.48 million in the 2026 budget to cater for the health and fitness needs of the President, Vice President and other top officials.
Of this sum, N632.9 million is set aside for overhead costs, while N345.8 million will go into capital projects aimed at strengthening the clinic’s capacity and infrastructure.
A substantial chunk of the clinic’s recurrent spending is devoted to drugs and medical supplies, with N402.3 million earmarked for pharmaceuticals and consumables alone.
In addition, N22.7 million has been budgeted for travel related to staff training, complemented by N36.3 million for local training programmes, reflecting ongoing efforts to keep medical personnel updated and professionally prepared.
The clinic will spend N139.8 million on the maintenance of office and IT equipment, while N31.9 million is provided for uniforms and clothing for health workers, covering protective gear and professional attire required for daily operations.
On the capital side, N274.9 million is allocated for the purchase of health and medical equipment, including N213.4 million dedicated specifically to equipping the clinic and its VIP wing. A further N61.6 million is reserved for the annual routine maintenance of medical equipment at the VIP wing, highlighting the premium placed on specialised facilities for top officials.
Housing and structural upgrades are also captured, with N23.2 million provided for the construction of two blocks of 24-unit three-bedroom flats, N6.7 million for call-duty doctors’ quarters, N9.3 million for remodelling and upgrades, and N8.0 million for the installation of a lift at the dental wing.
Medical spending does not stop at the clinic’s gate. Other State House offices retain their own medical provisions, with the State House Operations for the President budgeting N79.7 million for drugs and medical supplies and N1.3 million for maintaining equipment at the VIP wing. The State House Headquarters also allocates N43.6 million for drugs and N13.2 million for general medical expenses.
Beyond healthcare, the budget reveals how the Presidency caters to daily living and official hospitality. Under State House Operations for the President, N375.2 million has been set aside for foodstuff and catering materials, while the State House headquarters will spend N177.1 million on similar supplies.
The Vice President’s operations add another N171.0 million to this category, covering raw food items required for meetings, events and routine Villa operations.
Prepared meals and refreshments account for additional spending. The State House headquarters leads with N150.1 million, followed by N56.4 million under State House Operations for the President.
The Office of the Chief of Staff to the President will spend N24.9 million, the Office of the Chief Security Officer N16.1 million, the Vice President’s operations N15.0 million, and the Lagos Liaison Office N10.1 million.
Sports and fitness also find a place in the welfare ledger. The State House Sports Club is allocated N8.97 million for sporting equipment, while N11.71 million is set aside for the procurement and maintenance of equipment at the State House Central Gymnasium, aimed at promoting staff wellness within the Villa.
The largest overhead figures, however, sit under welfare and allowances. The State House Headquarters alone is allocated N2.12 billion for honorarium and sitting allowances, alongside N513.8 million for welfare packages.
Other offices record notable sums, including N293.9 million for honorarium and sitting allowances at the Office of the Chief of Staff, N65.8 million under State House Operations for the President, and combined welfare and allowance provisions running into tens of millions of naira for the Vice President’s operations.
