Our reporter/ Hours after Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate in the last presidential election criticised the signing into into law the N2.17trn supplementary budget, by President Bola Tinubu, the federal government has responded to the former Anambra state governor.
Obi had in a statement via X ( formerly known as Twitter) accused the federal government of being uncaring and insensitive to the suffering Nigerians.
According to Obi, the President failed to consider certain emergencies and pressing needs of the country.
The LP presidential candidate said that going by the manner the budgetary allocations were done, Tinubu was obviously unaware of the dire crisis in the country.
“No item of urgent social welfare has yet featured in the supplementary budget being orchestrated by this government. Instead, the items being made to dominate public discourse on the budget include a mysterious Presidential Yacht, Presidential Jets, the furnishing of already lavishly furnished presidential quarters and offices, fleets of luxury SUVs, etc. This portrays a Government that is totally uncaring and insensitive to the suffering of the majority, and indifferent to the mood of the nation,” the statement read.
“Admittedly, some items in the current budget may not have taken into consideration the needs of a new administration, but it is expected that a supplementary budget this late in the financial year should reflect mostly urgent items of national welfare.
“Sadly, the most pressing national needs and emergencies have not featured in the supplementary budget that was just announced by the government. For example, the United Nations and World Food Programme have recently alerted that up to 6.5 million Nigerians will go hungry next year.
“This number is largely from among citizens in Sokoto, Adamawa, Borno, Yobe, and Zamfara States. A caring government in order to plan for the mitigation of such pending catastrophe can request for supplementary budget provisions to cushion those under threat.”
But reacting to the criticism, the minister of information and national orientation Mohammed Idris said the budget “is not insensitive, but rather a bold and pragmatic response to the pressing and economic challenges Nigeria currently faces”.
The minister urged Obi to take the time and effort to acquaint himself with the details of the supplementary budget which includes allocations for essential sectors: security, agriculture and food security, works and housing, wage increase for workers, student loan scheme and social safety nets, among others, all aimed at strengthening the country’s economic foundations and improve the living conditions of Nigerians.
“The broad provision in the supplementary budget is a reflection of President Tinubu’s strong desire and eagerness to support the vital functions of government, address urgent security needs, and fast-track the country’s recovery process from the economic impact occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy,” the minister was quoted by his media aide Rabiu Ibrahim as saying.
Idris asked the opposition to be informed and balanced in the exercise of their right to differing opinions and refrain from misrepresentation of facts for political gains, explaining that the supplementary budget was derived from the active engagement and consultation with relevant stakeholders who ensured that the budgetary provisions aligned with the needs and expectations of Nigerians.
He emphasized that, in line with President Tinubu’s inclination to accountability and transparency in government expenditure, all items in the supplementary budget have been meticulously scrutinised to ensure efficient utilisation of public funds.
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