Peter Obi, a presidential contender for the Labour Party in 2023, has stated that he will not stop raising serious concerns regarding the 2024 budget, which he believes will have a profound impact on the lives of all Nigerians, particularly the impoverished.
In a statement released via X on Tuesday, Obi made this claim, stating that the budget’s many flaws will have serious consequences for the progress of the country and its people.
There are clearly some parts of the budget that don’t fit with where we are right now, so we need to get this reviewed and redirected ASAP. According to Obi, “the well-being of the nation” depends on prioritizing the use of limited resources.
Several particular budget allocations were contested by Obi.
“It is intolerable to set aside N15 billion for the National Assembly hospital alone; this sum is more than five times what The National Hospital receives or the total capital vote for our six main teaching hospitals in the country,” he stated.
Among the hospitals he mentioned were those affiliated with various universities: University College Hospital in Ibadan, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospitals.
“The lack of concern for the majority of society is evident in this disparity,” Obi stated.
The e-Library and the National Assembly library project, which received an allocation of N15.3 billion, were also his targets.
“The National Assembly Library budget is fifteen times more than the National Library budget, which has been under construction for the past 20 years,” Obi wrote, pointing out that the National Library’s budget for 2024 is less than 1 billion Naira.
Obi went on to say that he was unhappy that the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation had received less funding than the National Assembly Recreation Centre and the Senate and House of Representatives’ parking lots, which had received N10 billion.
A portion of N10 billion was diverted to the National Assembly Recreation Centre and the Senate and House of Representatives’ parking lots, he remarked, “which is worrying,” while a smaller portion was set aside for the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
“These allocations show a complete disregard for the future and a failure to understand fundamental national priorities and global trends at a time when innovation, technology, and science are vital to our country’s success,” he said.
The removal of unnecessary spending, a review of the budget, and a reevaluation of priorities were all demands made by Obi.