- He said the budget is awash with inconsequential items and allocations that have little or no positive impact on the citizens
The 2023 Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi, says Nigeria can’t pull itself out of the doldrums and quagmire it’s currently enmeshed in with the make-up of the 2024 budget.
He said the budget is awash with inconsequential items and allocations that have little or no positive impact on the citizens.
Obi in a statement via X on Tuesday, said he will not refrain from calling out the inadequacies and questionable line of items in the 2024 budget, noting that it’s critical to the lives of citizens, especially the poor.
He noted that the budget’s many downsides have far-reaching implications for the nation’s development and the well-being of its citizens.
“It is evident that there are items in the budget that do not align with our current circumstances, and it is imperative to call for a review and appropriate virement. Allocating our scarce resources to high-priority areas of need is essential for the well-being of the nation,” Obi stated.
Obi voiced his grievances with several specific allocations in the budget.
“Allocating N15 billion solely for the National Assembly hospital is unacceptable, especially when it exceeds five times the budgetary allocation to The National Hospital or the combined capital vote of our six major teaching hospitals across the nation,” he said.
He further listed the teaching hospitals including University College Hospital, Ibadan; University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria; Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife; Jos University Teaching Hospital and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.
“This disparity reflects a low level of care for the rest of society,” Obi asserted.
He also criticised the N15.3 billion allocation for the National Assembly library project and procurement of books, including the e-Library.
“The National Library has been under construction for the past 20 years, and its budgetary allocation for 2024 is less than 1B Naira, which makes the National Assembly Library budget 15 times more,” Obi wrote.
Obi further expressed concern over the allocation of N10 billion for the Senate and House of Representatives’ car parks and the National Assembly Recreation Centre while allocating less to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
He said, “Allocating N10 billion for the Senate and House of Representatives’ car parks and the National Assembly Recreation Centre, while allocating less to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, is concerning.
“In an era where science, technology and innovation are crucial for the nation’s future, such allocations demonstrate a lack of foresight and basic awareness of global trends and urgent national priorities,” he stated.
Obi, therefore called for a reassessment of priorities, a revisiting of the budget, and the elimination of frivolous expenditures
