Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in 2023, has pledged to continue voicing his serious concerns about the 2024 budget, emphasizing its crucial impact on the lives of citizens, particularly the underprivileged.
Obi expressed his views on Tuesday through a statement, arguing that the numerous drawbacks of the budget could have significant consequences for the country’s growth and the welfare of its people.
“There are clearly elements in the budget that are not in sync with our present situation. It’s crucial to demand a review and suitable virement. It’s vital for the nation’s welfare that we allocate our limited resources to areas of high priority,” Obi said.
Obi raised objections to several specific budget allocations.
He stated, “It’s unacceptable to allocate N15 billion solely for the National Assembly hospital, especially when it’s more than five times the budget for The National Hospital or the combined capital vote for our six major teaching hospitals nationwide.
He went on to name the teaching hospitals, which include 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 discrepancy shows a lack of concern for the wider society,” Obi claimed.
He also criticized the N15.3 billion allocation for the National Assembly library project and the procurement of books, including the e-Library.
“It’s very disappointing to justify a N15.3 billion allocation for the National Assembly library project and book procurement, including the e-Library, in a country that lacks a National Library.
The National Library has been under construction for two decades, and its 2024 budget allocation is less than 1B Naira, making the National Assembly Library budget 15 times larger,” Obi pointed out.
Moreover, Obi voiced his worries about the N10 billion allocation for the Senate’s and House of Representatives’ car parks and the National Assembly Recreation Centre, while the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation received less.
He stated, “It’s concerning to allocate N10 billion for the Senate’s and House of Representatives’ car parks and the National Assembly Recreation Centre, while allocating less to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
In a time when science, technology, and innovation are key to the nation’s future, such allocations show a lack of vision and basic understanding of global trends and pressing national priorities,” he noted.
Obi urged for a reevaluation of priorities, a reexamination of the budget, and the removal of unnecessary expenditures.
“Any nation focused on development should not tolerate this level of insensitivity to the current situation and the challenges faced by the people. Every scarce resource must be directed towards productive sectors of the economy.
It’s time for our nation to reassess its priorities, revisit the budget, eliminate frivolous expenditures, and properly channel our resources for the people’s benefit. No great nation is built on a foundation of waste and frivolity,” he concluded.
