Last Saturday, Sen. Ningi of Bauchi stirred controversy when he alleged that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion and that the country is operating two budgets concurrently. BudgIT, a civic-tech non-profit organisation, says the national assembly inserted 7,447 constituency projects worth N2.24 trillion in the 2024 project. The organisation said the 10th national assembly continued the “ugly trend” of indiscriminate insertion of projects in the budget. The Senate had suspended Ningi without rebutting his claims. Nigerians say ‘there is no smoke without fire’!
The organisation said most of the projects inserted into the budget by the national assembly have “no national significance but narrowed to personal interests”. The federal lawmakers also raised their budget allocation from N197 billion to N344 billion, their highest ever in the history of the National Assembly.
Outrageous budget items include.
- Printing press. N3 billion
- Library. N12.1 billion
- Library book procurement N3 billion
- e library N225 million
- Senate Car Park. N3 billion
- Reps Car Park. N3 billion
- Recreation center N4 billion
- Hospital Project. N15 billion
The NASS budget (N344 billion) is twice the total allocation to all 26 Federal Universities!!
Then there is constituency project where individual senators can just earmark incredible sums of money ostensibly for projects in their constituency only to spend peanuts on projects and haul the money into their personal accounts as personal wealth! For example, in the 2024 budget, they earmarked –
427 boreholes for N82.5billion = N193 million per borehole!
1,150 streetlights for N212billion = N184 million per streetlight!
170 ICT projects with a value of N30.95 billion!
N7.61 billion for the Empowerment of Traditional Rulers!
Nigerians have come to the day where kidnappers are demanding billions for ransom. So one can surmise that the kidnapping racket is not dissimilar from the bandits in the national assembly. Only difference is that one group is using a gun, and our distinguished bandits just need a pen! Since the day Obasanjo created the corrupt vehicle called ‘constituency projects’, successive editions of the budget have poured billions and trillions of Naira into every imaginable project, with appreciable negative results.
Today, the government is tactically expanding the deficit before consolidating a much needed revenue generation plan, thereafter effectively putting the plan to work. President Tinubu also understands that Nigeria cannot continue to toe the path of fiscal irresponsibility. We are in dire need of sound fiscal frameworks to spur domestic and foreign investments and improve the welfare of the citizens. Unfortunately, the National Assembly appears oblivious to these plans or the Need to put Nigeria and Nigerians first.
Last week, the Guardian paper editorialized as follows: “… it is, indeed, worrisome that the Tinubu administration has so far followed many of the established negative patterns of its predecessors. Such accustomed maladies include poor implementation of budgets, extrabudgetary spending, lavish asides, and opacity in public financial management. This is why it is a major concern that backyard mechanisms are now being employed to fund fuel subsidies after the song and dance over its removal just five months ago.”
The worrisome situation prevails despite the enormous sums of money appropriated in the budget and despite all the numerous “assurances” that are given to Nigerians. The disconnect between the sums appropriated and the reality of actual budget implementation is so wide and inexplicable that all discerning minds will find it impossible to even say it out loud, let alone offer a defense.
The most fantastic incidence of corruption now appears to be resting at the doorstep of the most hallowed chamber in our land, filled by about 100 or so of the most pampered Nigerians, and by far the most overpaid politicians in the world. Therefore, we cannot just sit back and expect corruption to go away with a few ignoble speeches or presidential promises. The corrupt system that exists today is symptomatic of a deeper economic woe that are easy to identify but hard to tackle, nevertheless, there must exist a willingness to bite the bullet and learn behaviours that will bring about change. Our leaders are a good representation of who we are and we must not fool ourselves into thinking that we are better than they are. The solution to the pandemic of corruption begins with us all. What are we prepared to do about it?
Although we are deeply embroiled in the casuistry of political revenge and illusory change, what our people will feel the most is a real economic growth. We want our leaders to hear the cries of the masses and say, “I can hear you.” We can’t afford those who want power just for power’s sake, or financial gain. The state of our infrastructure, especially power, roads and water is still far from what they should be. Majority of Nigerians still have no access to safe drinking water; most Federal roads and many state roads are in severe states of disrepair, and power supply can only be described as atrociously inadequate!
It can be argued that Nigerians are reticent, and unwilling to challenge the status quo through mass action. Whether that is family customs, religious restrictions, or social mores, is unclear, but they will bend over backwards to accommodate, and please, others even if it means remaining stuck and unhappy in penury. This can be viewed as a nice quality, unfortunately, it also means that the word of a visibly backwards and imprudent political representative is rarely challenged. We cant continue on this path.
Our budgets must be lean, focused, implementable, and ultimately measurable from the results obtained for the money.
While the National assembly is having a party at our expense, the Nation is left with the following intractable predicaments that are largely ignored. Government officials at all levels continue to commit serious abuses. Inadequate infrastructure, endemic corruption, and general economic mismanagement are hindering economic growth. Much of our wealth remain concentrated in the hands of a small elite. The following problems are also evident.
- denial of citizens’ right to change their government – due to pervasive corruption
• politically motivated and extrajudicial killings accompanied by the use of excessive force
• arbitrary arrest and prolonged pretrial detention – greatest detention population awaiting trial
• restrictions on freedom of speech, press, and assembly – by many state authorities
• imperfect freedom of religion and movement within many communities
• communal/ethnic violence, vigilante violence, regional, and religious discrimination
• etc.”
If you are a political representative or political executive only because you want to be rich, then be prepared to give back to the people what you pilfered from them anyway. Of all the folks who claim riches today, most did not get it through their toil, their entrepreneurial genius, their invention, or even from an inheritance. Most riches were ill-gotten through processes like the notorious budget padding and contract inflation! Thus, the very least we ask is that you keep your promises to us and to answer our query about your wealth and our demand for accountability.
The choices are clear, we could either resolve to correct the inequities in the political representation vs budgeting, as is the case today, or we could continue on this deceptive path of exploitative, glaringly selfish, notoriously unequal, and prejudicial budget process that is replete with viciousness and fraudulent systems used by those who are supposed to protect our interests.
I submit that It’s a Worthless society that thinks the govt is Supposed feed them! They deserve the Leaders who think stealing is a badge of honour!
Is it now very likely, as observed by my good friend, Prof. Abidde, that “in our lifetime, corruption and administrative malfeasance will become legal and admirable.”
The choice is ours!
Hf Dauda MoiSoro
hdfika@gmail.com
