A senator yesterday spoke of how poor budgeting over the
years hampered Nigeria’s growth.
Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South), in his review of
budgets, especially in the immediate past administration of Dr. Goodluck
Jonathan, highlighted huge inconsistencies in budgetary processes and
duplication of subheads which accounted for poor implementation.
He cited the approval of N1.4billion by Jonathan’s
administration for the acquisition of computer software for the Office of the
Secretary to the Federal Government between 2012 and 2015.
One-time Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim is the immediate
past occupant of the office.
Abaribe, who spoke in Benin City, the Edo State capital, was
delivering the 2015 Faculty of Social Sciences Annual Lecture of the University
of Benin (UNIBEN). The topic was “Our Country, our budget: A critical analysis
of Nigerians budgeting system”. He said the office of the SGF had N1.223
billion as welfare package, with N580 million voted for subscription to bodies
in the 2015 budget.
He said: “A breakdown of the money appropriated in the last
four years indicates that in 2012, N250 million was appropriated for software
acquisition, yet the sub head appeared again, gulping N100 million while the
sum of N580 million was budgeted for the same expenditure.
“I begin with the Office of the Secretary to the Government
of the Federation. What could justify the allocation of N1.223 billion to that
office for welfare packages? The same office also has N367.715 million for
subscription to professional bodies and N580 million for computer software
acquisition.
“Computer software in this case constitutes a veritable sink
holes for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) seeking to pillage the
treasury.
“Still on this office, let’s take time to examine this
computer software acquisition. In 2012, N250 million was appropriated for
software acquisition. In 2013, the subhead appeared again, gulping N100
million. Now in 2014, N580 million was appropriated for it.
“What is this computer software that a particular office
acquire every year? Which privately-owned company acquires computer software to
the tune of N100 million – and more – every year?
“If you check the budget for every MDA of the Federal
Government, you will see identical provisions for computers, software and
consumables year in year out.”
According to the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Sam Edo, the
lectures are to foster interactions between the government and the governed
through the requisite exposition thereby making learning pleasurable.
Senator Abaribe graduated from the faculty 30 years ago.
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