By Ohuakanwa Chibuzo
In a recent X post, former Presidential candidate Peter Obi expressed astonishment over the approval of a staggering N3 billion for the verification of the National Register of the Poor. Emphasizing the uniqueness of such occurrences in Nigeria, Obi reiterated his longstanding stance on the urgent need to address the escalating cost of governance in the country.
Obi’s remarks draw attention to the seemingly disproportionate allocation of funds for the verification process, sparking concerns about financial prudence and effective resource utilization. The outspoken advocate for fiscal responsibility stressed that urgent measures must be taken to decisively tackle the pervasive issue of high governance costs.
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The post did not delve into the specifics of the allocation or the justification behind the approved sum, leaving room for speculation and prompting calls for transparency in government spending. As debates surrounding fiscal responsibility and accountability gain momentum, Peter Obi’s call for immediate action resonates with those who share concerns about the economic implications of unchecked expenditure.
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The post reads: “It is very surprising to hear that the sum of N3 billion was approved for verification of national register of the poor. This can only happen in Nigeria. I have maintained that we must decisively deal with the issue of cost of governance in Nigeria now as a matter of urgency.
“Sadly, this very huge amount approved just for verification of national register of the poor is more than three times the amount of N908,699,435 which was budgeted for our National Library.
“This is happening at a time in our nation when we need all the manpower training to keep our work force productive. Our national library, a very critical infrastructure in our nation, seemingly abandoned, lacks books and educational materials.
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“The same amount, would have made a significant impact, if prudently and transparently managed. Moreso, with more than half of our population battling with absolute and multi dimensional poverty, one wonders why such a huge sum was approved for just verification of national register of the poor, when the same amount could have been directed towards actual poverty alleviation. This approval raises a fundamental question: how come the data for poverty alleviation has not been verified on a regular basis?”
