Abuja (Nigeria), Nov 9 (AP) Nigerian President Bola Tinubu's approval of a supplementary budget earmarking millions of dollars for a presidential yacht and sport utility vehicles for his wife and top government officials has again stoked anger among ordinary Nigerians over what they see as a growing economic disparity.

Tinubu on Wednesday signed into law the budget that allocates USD 38 million for the presidential air fleet and other renovations. Some USD 6.1 million budgeted earlier for the the yacht was assigned by lawmakers to “student loans” - with the senate's approval.

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The country's navy said it had taken delivery of the yacht, but “it has not been paid for.”

Presidential spokesperson Anjuri Ngelale defended the supplemental budget as serving to “strengthen Nigeria's security architecture and address Nigeria's critical infrastructure deficit, amongst other considerations.”

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The spokesperson said about 30 per cent of the money would be spent on security, and another 35 per cent on “provision of critical infrastructure.”

Recently, the country's 460-member national assembly confirmed that all lawmakers will get each a new SUV reportedly at a cost of more than USD 150,000 each. The lawmakers said the vehicles would help them do their work better.

Nigeria, one of the world's poorest countries, is currently seeing food prices continue to soar to record highs. Also soaring is the frustration of ordinary Nigerians who see politicians earn huge salaries while others like medical professionals often have to go on strike to protest meager wages.

“It is by the grace of God that I can eat. It is hard," said Nduka Omeje, a trader in Apo resettlement in Nigeria's capital city, Abuja.

Labour unions struggled to get the government to raise the minimum wage for civil servants from a monthly USD 67 a month. The 2019 came after workers staged protests. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)