Victor EzejaPresidential Candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 general election, Mr Party Obi has called on the Nigerian government to urgently review the 2024 national budget and reallocate resources to critical areas of need.
Obi’s call for review followed the budget padding allegation controversy that rocked the polity last week when a senator representing Bauchi Central senatorial district in the National Assembly, Abdul Ningi, claimed that about N3.7 trillion was not attached to any specific project. He was consequently suspended for three months by the Senate who asserted that his comments tarnished the image of the parliament, Presidency, and were capable of inciting Nigerians against the Federal Government.
In a statement via his verified X handle, Obi said that having followed the controversies trailing the 2024 budget, and having read some of the budgetary provisions and allocations of resources, it was imperative that a review of the appropriations should be done.
“The Executive and Legislative arms should initiate an immediate review of the budget as it is still in the early days of implementation in order to enable them do urgent virement of resources to critical areas,” Obi stated.
The former Anambra State governor stressed the need for adequate utilisation of the national resources in line with the country’s development priorities for the greater good of the people.
He urged the executive and legislative arm of the government to consider reallocating resources to critical areas such as security, hunger and poverty eradication, power supply, healthcare and education.
He expressed concerns about the level of insecurity across the country as manifested in kidnappings and killings of innocent people, adding that such a narrative poses a significant threat to the economy as it discourages both foreign and local investors.
“With all of these happening in our nation, how then can we attract foreign investors, & retain the confidence of local investors?” he queried.
Obi cited reports that revealed that Nigeria has become one of the hungriest nations in the world and one of the most difficult nations in the world to live in “with food prices constantly going out of the reach of most Nigerians” and “power supply is abysmally poor.”
On healthcare, he said: “About 80 percent of our primary healthcare centres are not functional. The cost of medical treatments and medicines have gone beyond the reach of most Nigerians.”
He also underscored the need for the government to make a serious effort to increase access to education, especially for young people, noting that Nigeria, regrettably, now has “the highest number of out-of-school children, with about 20 million out-of-school children.”
“We need to take our children off the streets and give them access to basic education.
“I, therefore, urge our executive and legislative arms to consider the many challenges facing our nation and re-allocate resources to these very critical areas. This is the time for complete sacrifice. A New Nigeria is still very POssible,” Obi added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
