Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023, has pledged to never back down from voicing his serious concerns over the 2024 budget, pointing out its crucial significance to people’s life in general and the impoverished in particular.
Obi claimed in a statement released on Tuesday through X that the budget’s many drawbacks would have a major effect on both the growth of the country and the welfare of its people.
“It’s clear that several budget items do not fit with our actual situation, thus a review and proper implementation are needed immediately. The nation’s well-being depends on allocating our limited resources to high-priority areas of need, according to Obi.
Obi objected to a number of specific allocations in the budget.
“It is unacceptable to allocate N15 billion for the National Assembly hospital alone, especially considering that this amount is five times more than The National Hospital’s budgetary allocation or the combined capital vote of our six major teaching hospitals nationwide,” he stated.
The University College Hospital in Ibadan, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, the Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital were among the teaching hospitals he listed further.
Obi claimed, “This disparity reflects a low level of care for the rest of society.”
He also criticized the N15.3 billion allocated for the purchase of books, including the e-Library, and the National Assembly library project.
It is somewhat unsatisfactory to justify a budgeted allocation of N15.3 billion for the National Assembly library project and the purchase of books, including the e-Library, in a nation lacking a national library.
“The National Assembly Library has a budget that is 15 times more than the National Library, which has been under construction for the last 20 years and has less than 1B Naira allocated for it in 2024,” Obi wrote.
In addition, Obi voiced concerns about the N10 billion allocated to the National Assembly Recreation Centre and the parking lots of the Senate and House of Representatives, while the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation received less funding.
He said, “Such allocations demonstrate a lack of foresight and basic awareness of global trends and urgent national priorities in an era where science, technology, and innovation are crucial for the nation’s future.”
Obi demanded that wasteful spending be cut, the budget be reviewed, and priorities be reevaluated.
“No development-minded country should tolerate this level of insensitivity to the current situation and challenges faced by the people.” All limited resources need to be allocated to economically productive sectors of the economy.
It’s time for our country to reevaluate its goals, go over its spending plan, cut unnecessary expenses, and use funds wisely for the good of the populace. “Waste and frivolity are not the foundations of great nations,” he said.
