‘2014 FG Budget Won’t Impact Positively On Nigerians’

The Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), yesterday expressed concern that 2014 national budget was too much skewed to make meaningful impact on the lives of most Nigerians.

The President of the association, Mr Bala Ka’oje, said in an interview with newsmen in Lagos that only 7 per cent of the N4.6 trillion proposed in the budget was earmarked for capital development.

“APBN has checked and analysed the whole thing and have come out with a position on the 2014 budget.

“With a bench mark of $77.5  per barrel and only 7 per cent of the budget for capital development, it means a whopping 73 per cent is for recurrent expenditure.

“Budgeting in this way does not give room for any meaningful development of the nation,” he said.

Ka’oje said that setting aside N3.5 trillion for recurrent expenditure meant that only 2 per cent of the population would benefit from the budget.

He noted that the 2013 budget was also “structured in that way”.

Accounting to him, continued structuring of the nation’s budget toward recurrent spending will impart negatively on the common man.

“The National Assembly should kindly look into this recurrent issue critically.

“It has become a recurrent decimal in Nigeria, whereby you have a very huge recurrent and nothing for capital, which is not a good balanced budget,” he said.

He said that the common man would benefit the more from a balanced budget especially when driven by employment opportunities.

Ka’oje said more funds should be allocated to boost agriculture, housing and health care infrastructure to generate employment and empower Nigerians at the grassroots.

He advised the Federal Government to block areas of leakages in the system and ensure that revenues accruable into the Federation Account were captured.

Secretary General, Rivers State Association of Justice of the Peace, Alabo Dr Silas J. N. Okanisin, JP (right) chatting with the Paramount Ruler of Kula Community, HRM Kroma Eleki JP, during the 415 Annual General Assembly, at the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Port Harcourt, recently. Photo: Nwiueh Donatus Ken