Prominent opposition leader in Nigeria and Labour Party chieftain, Peter Obi has described the increase in the 2025 Budget to N54.2 trillion as unnecessary.
According to him, the decision of the federal government to increase the budget as a result of revenue increase cannot be justified by any reason.
Obi, the 202 Presidential candidate of the LP made this remark on his X handle on Friday, barely 48 hours after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wrote a letter to the National Assembly that his government has decided to increasing the budget from N49.7 trillion to N54.2 trillion.
The magazine reported that President Tinubu, informed the NASS in the letter that he took the action because the revenue accruing to the federal government have significantly increased.
Reacting on his social media platform, Obi said the government did not give in details how the extra funds will be spent if eventually approved by the NASS.
He stressed that the government should be transparent enough to explain how the funds will be spent, adding that critical sectors such as education, healthcare, security, and poverty alleviation should be priotised, calling the NASS to hold the government accountable by scrutinising the entire budget.
He said, “Such expenditures should be directed toward critical areas of development; education, healthcare, security, and poverty alleviation.
“Furthermore, Nigerians are still waiting for a detailed account of the execution and expenditures of the Renewed Hope budget passed in December 2023 to ensure that it has been properly utilized for the country’s future development and the well-being of its citizens.”
On Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate President Godswill Akpabio read the president’s letter, on the floor of the senate, saying the lawmakers will ensure that the request is thoroughly scrutinised.
The N50.2 trillion yearly financial estimate, the magazine reports, is the highest to be presented to NASS by any Nigerian leader.
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