Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, has called on the Presidency and the National Assembly to clarify the disparities in budget padding of N3 trillion.
Obi expressed concern since the money involved equals more than 10% of the national budget.
Recall Senator Abdul Ningi of Bauchi Central questioned the location of N3 trillion in the 2024 N28.7 trillion budget.
However, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disputed Ningi’s allegation.
The presidency declared that the Nigerian government permitted the National Assembly to increase the national budget by N1.2 trillion in the spirit of democracy.
Reacting, Obi decried the lack of transparency in managing public funds, stressing that it’s a breach of trust.
Posting on X, Obi wrote: “I find it deeply disconcerting and a matter of grave concern and even shameful to read about the alleged N3 trillion discrepancy between the budget approved by the Nigerian Senate and the one being implemented by the presidency.
“One Senator claims there is a separate budget, allegedly containing the N3 trillion, that differs from what was passed by the National Assembly.
“This alleged discrepancy is especially worrying because it represents over 10% of our national budget (estimated at N29 trillion) and is more than the combined education (N1.54 trillion) and health (N1.38 trillion) official budgets.
“We also deserve full accountability of all our scarce resources placed in public trust. Therefore, we, the Nigerian people, demand a public explanation from both the National Assembly and the Presidency regarding the purpose and process of adding this alleged N3 trillion.”
He noted that transparency and accountability were the cornerstones of democratic governance.
