Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) on Wednesday in Abuja, berated the 2016 budget and called on President Muhammaduu Buhari to withdraw it and go back to the drawing board.
Abaribe while making contributions during the consideration of the budget, said the proposal was faulty on many grounds and could not be implemented at it was.
He said that predication of oil benchmark at 38 dollars per barrel when the crude oil price had fallen below 30 dollars per barrel made the budget unrealistic.
Abaribe faulted the government for increasing spending by 30 per cent based on borrowing.
“Mr President, my colleagues, this budget is indeed unique. After the budget presentation, the finance minister has never come to explain the details of the budget as it is normally done.
“It is a budget of change I agree, but it is a change in the wrong direction. I say it is a change in the wrong direction because it says that it is based on zero budgeting requiring all expenses to be fully justified.
“Mr President, a budget that increases spending up to 30 per cent based solely on borrowing, in what way are we justified? That is the question we want to ask the people who brought this budget.
“We know what is going on in the global economy: this budget is predicated on an oil benchmark of 38 dollars per barrel and I can now say that with oil being 28 dollars today, this budget is dead on arrival.
“The job of the opposition is to help the government to get its priorities right, so I want to please urge this government to withdraw this budget and go back to the drawing board,” he said.
The senator also faulted the adjustments made in the budget as well as allocation for spending in the Aso Rock Villa, saying that it was too exorbitant.
He said that the adjustments rather than reduce spending in areas where they were not necessary only spread it into different offices.
“Mr President, a budget that moves domestic spending within Aso Villa from N580 million to N1.7 billion cannot be a budget of change.
“We were told that in the revised budget there was an adjustment due to error, we agree but what has happened is that up to N7 billion were moved from buying vehicles and spread to offices.
“It also increased the spending that is due to renovations within the Villa.
“They are going to renovate the Villa with N3.9 billion: what else do you want to renovate there that Nigerians will see in the Year 2016?” he asked.
However, in his contribution, Sen. Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North) blamed the previous administration for the lack of funds due to the embezzlement witnessed in previous governments.
He said that this was the 17th budget he would be debating as a legislator and noted that not more than 40 per cent implementation was achieved in the last 16 years.
“The proposal before us is the first budget where the executive has deemed it necessary to give ordinary Nigerians genuine hope.
“N500 billion allocated for school feeding and social SAFTEY NET is commendable.
“It is time to say oil should not continue to play dominant role as we have suffered economically and politically: it is time to diversify this economy.
“The direction of the executive is the way to go. `That is, we should make every effort to have the real sector-agric mining and manufacturing.
“The budget deserves the support of everyone, including my colleagues on the other side. When we were in the opposition we supported the PDP, they should support us,” he said. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Dey told us dey will reduce cost of Governance Imagine ds Mess dey dont even hav A benchmark mark on oil price
ReplyDeleteTo me, #500billion for school feeding is just a waste, why can't they use the money to establish companies where the parents or relatives of these students can work and be able to feed them 3 times daily conveniently, instead of wasting #500b in a year for ordinary lunch that can never satisfy d children. I stand to be corrected anyway.
ReplyDeleteKunle, you are mistaking. The #500billion is for the boys. You don't need a receipt for it and you cannot prove that the children are not fed. Multiplying the Aso rock spending by more than a factor of 3 is also to let the boys have enough to share and recoup election expenses.
DeleteYou no understand?
That's all
Bros I feel you, well understood
DeleteAso Villa spending of N1.7b, renovation of N3.9 billion and School feeding of over N500b are not Nigerians priorities or headaches. Government of 'CHANGE' should please give Nigerians realistic budget. How can Nigerian Budget be based on N38 dollars why a barrel of crude is N28USD.
ReplyDeleteNo mission, no vision, i weep for my country
ReplyDeleteThis is nothing but a farcade. They told us to prepare for a hard time, tighten our belts, while they are busy loosening their. 1.7b naira on domestic expenses in the villa, what for?
ReplyDelete(MIKE ABE)
This is nothing but a farcade. They told us to prepare for a hard time, tighten our belts, while they are busy loosening their. 1.7b naira on domestic expenses in the villa, what for?
ReplyDelete(MIKE ABE)
It's a change corruption redefined. What a shame that a whole government with all the team of learned and experience men cannot give this country a descent budget and all they expend their energy on is the endless blame game. Rather than make progress we are retrogressing.' A change in the wrong direction indeed'. Let's just hope that after completing the assignment of sweeping Nigeria clean, the expert builders will take over and continue to rebuild from where they were rudely interrupted? This is Nigeria anything is possible
ReplyDelete#.5 trillion is another orchestrated corruption. It should be discouraged
ReplyDeleteAfghanistan method of government?
ReplyDeleteBuhari is a clueless fraudster
ReplyDelete...when "Change" is fast becoming "Shame". The "Fabu" has just begun. Well, as events are unfolding, we are watching.
ReplyDelete