Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023, has stated that he will not back down from voicing his serious concerns regarding the 2024 budget, pointing out its crucial significance to the lives of all residents, but especially the poor. In a statement released on Tuesday through X, Obi made the case that the budget’s many drawbacks will have a significant impact on both the growth of the country and the welfare of its people.
“It is evident that there are items in the budget that do not align with our current circumstances, and it is imperative to call for a review and appropriate virement. Allocating our scarce resources to high-priority areas of need is essential for the well-being of the nation,” Obi stated.
Obi took issue with several specific allocations in the budget.
“Allocating N15 billion solely for the National Assembly hospital is unacceptable, especially when it exceeds five times the budgetary allocation to The National Hospital or the combined capital vote of our six major teaching hospitals across the nation,” he said.
In his list of teaching hospitals, he also mentioned the University College Hospital in Ibadan, the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu, the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital in Zaria, the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital in Ile-Ife, the Jos University Teaching Hospital, and the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital.
“This disparity reflects a low level of care for the rest of society,” Obi asserted.
He also criticized the N15.3 billion allotted for the purchase of books, including the e-Library, and the National Assembly library project.
“The National Library has been under construction for the past 20 years, and its budgetary allocation for 2024 is less than 1B Naira, which makes the National Assembly Library budget 15 times more,” Obi wrote.
Obi also voiced his displeasure with the N10 billion that was given to the National Assembly Recreation Center and the parking lots of the Senate and House of Representatives, but not enough for the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
“It is concerning that N10 billion is being allocated for the National Assembly Recreation Center and the parking lots of the Senate and House of Representatives, but less is being given to the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation,” he stated.
“In an era where science, technology and innovation are crucial for the nation’s future, such allocations demonstrate a lack of foresight and basic awareness of global trends and urgent national priorities,” he stated.
Obi thus demanded that the budget be reviewed, priorities be reevaluated, and unnecessary spending be cut.
