Group Lauds NASS Over 2017 Budget Details

The Executive Director, Conscience Nigeria, a civil society organisation, Mr Tosin Adeyanju, has commended the National Assembly for making public funds allocated to it in the 2017 budget.
Adeyanju who spoke to newsmen last Saturday in Abuja noted that  it was the first time details of the National Assembly budget would be made public,  condemning the allocation of over N9 billion   in the NASS budget to legislative aides at a time of economic recession.
According to him, “I must commend the National Assembly for opening up its budget for the first time since 1999; we must commend its leadership for initiating that move’’.
“However, I don’t know why we have to pay over N9 billion for legislative aides, this is unacceptable to Nigerians.
“I don’t know why you want to pay such amount for legislative aides that carry bags and phones for the people that have been paid to legislate for us in the first place. I think Nigeria must kick against this, it is wrong and a total waste, “he said.
He wondered how much would be used to fix the country‘s health sector and create employment for its teeming youths if such an amount was allocated for legislative aides.
Adeyanju, however, said that there was need to allocate more funds to the health, education, agriculture and the industrial sectors to boost job creation in the country.
“I must note that the budget for education is still very low, the budget for youths is also far below expectations,’’ he said.
He urged the Federal Government to give priority to education, agriculture, skills acquisition and job creation to avoid youth restiveness.
Adeyanju said that the increase in the budget figure from N7.28 trillion to N7.44 trillion by the National Assembly was a welcome development.
This, he said, was especially if the aim was to get the country out of recession by spending more on capital projects.
“The Minister of Finance has been saying that the only way we can come out of recession is to spend more money on infrastructure development by engaging capital projects.
“This is expected to get the people employed and give them income in return,’’ he said.
He advised  acting President  Yemi Osinbajo to go through the budget to ensure that it met the aspirations of Nigerians  before assenting.
Adeyanju  also called on the executive arm of government to commence  the process for 2018 budget to avoid late passage.
“This era of passing budget late is not too good for  the country among the comity of nations.
“We must stop this pattern of budget passage in the middle of the year;  the Budget Office and the Minister of National Planning  should begin in earnest the process for 2018 budget.
“This will enable the budget get to the National Assembly in the next one or two months for them to commence the process of looking into it,’’ he said.