It was gratifying and heartwarming to see President Buhari hand over the reins of power to VP Yemi Osibanjo, during his five days trip aboard for medical checkup. This is as it should be in a Constitutional democracy such as we operate. Had late Yar’ Adua done this (may his soul rest in peace), Nigeria would not have tottered on the precipice in 2010, leading to the invocation of the “doctrine of necessity” by the Senate. PMB, Kudos for this bold, democratic and constitutional step.
WHEN YORUBA ELDERS AND SOYINKA RAISE THE
ALARM OVER NIGERIA’S CRUMBLING ECONOMY
SOYINKA
I couldn’t believe reading these. Is it that the APC and PMB never thought out a blue print as to how to manage the economy, one of their three cardinal programmes, the others being security and anti – corruption? Happily, the nobel laureate also reminded the government (like I have written and shouted myself hoarse), that corruption must be fought within the ambit of our laws, respect for human dignity and our individual and collective rights liberties. He says, “But on the human rights side, we have to watch very carefully to see if that can be achieved without forfeiting the fundamental human rights of people which form the basis we derive from citizenship”. I hope the “kill – them – lynch – them – handcuff them – without trial” historical revisionist merchants are hearing?
THE YORUBA UNITY FORUM (YUF)
This forum on the other hand warned of the deteriorating state of the economy, increasing disinvestment, youth unemployment and the free fall of the naira. It advocated cutting perquisites of public officers, reduction of the behemoth size of government. Emphasis on capital, rather than, recurrent projects, fixing exchange rate to remove the pressure on the naira and prevent round tripping, diversification of the economy, amongst other shamefully, the naira has since plummeted to over N391 to the Dollar, from a promise of N1 now to $1 during the president’s campaigns. Insecurity is worse. Hundreds of Nigerians are being mauled down in Chibok and adjoining areas, with their Senator telling a shell-shocked Nation that Boko Haram and FG control three LGAs each, while they both occupy the remaining 21 LGAs.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS
Very simple. Nothing said above by Soyinka or the Yoruba Forum is new. PMB only needs to dust up the 2014 National conference report, and he will find the Genesis to Revelations of charting success for his fledgling, inchoate government. There are more than 650 recommendations there.
NOW THIS
THE PADDED BUDGET OF RETROGRESSION
When PMB on 22nd December, 2015, presented his first budget proposal tagged: “The Budget of Change”, to a joint sitting of NASS, he declared that it was to be a zero-based budget, which ensures that resources are aligned with government’s priorities and allocated efficiently.
But shockingly, the budget is the worst in the history of budgets in Nigeria. It is either padded, items over priced, allocations serially replicated and some damn inanities and frivolities included.
Indeed, the Auditor – General of the Federation, Mr. Samuel Ukura contradicted PMB, insisting that the budget was not zero – based, but envelop system – based. This is incredible.
The minister of health and information have publicly denounced their ministries allocation, pleading “non est factum” (it is not my deed). An unseen ghostly budget cabal is being held responsible for this scam. It’s incredible, the phoney and funny allocations.
BOOKS FROM THE MOON
For example, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo’s office has more money allocated to it for books than each of the Federal Polytechnics in Nigeria. N4,906,822 was proposed for his books, while 11 out of 22 Federal Polytechnics, had a mere N3,832,038. More surprising is the fact that a humongous princely sum of N7.525 billion had been budgeted in last year’s budget for the same office.
More curiously, the State House under PMB whom many Nigerians had praised for his frugality and Spartan – like life style is the worst culprit.
A VILLA HOSPITAL THAT IS NOT ACCESSIBLE TO ORDINARY NIGERIANS
The elephantine sum of N3.8 billion is earmarked for the State House Medical Centre. Of this, N308 Million is to construct a new VIP wing at the clinic. Aside N3.21 Billion being budgeted for health equipment and supplies for the Medical Centre, another “State House HQTRS” lists a N203, 273, 602 for drugs and medical supplies, with the vice president getting an additional N7.54 million for medical expenses.
Comparatively, construction of all hospitals in Nigeria got a paltry N2.6 billion only. I don’t understand.
ELECTRICALS AND CABLES FROM MARS
A princely sum of N322,421,971is allocated to link a mere cable to the drivers’ restroom at the presidential villa. N213,873,953 was proposed for linking of a cable from Guest House No 9 generator house to the gate. Cables!
As noted by Premium Times, the president “allocated N618, 604, 265 for the installation of electrical lighting and fittings at the villa, which equate to spending N1.6 million daily installing lighting and fittings and another N371, 733,964 for the installation of electrical distribution boards and other cables. “ My God!
AN EMPEROR’S PALACE?
Pmb’S Guest House needs N400 million face-lift, while Aso Rock Guest House face lift costs N387, 980, 200. Said Premium Times, “a whopping N3.91 billion was earmarked for the annual routine maintenance of villa facilities. A breakdown of this amount shows that the government plans to spend N10.72 million daily on routine maintenance. This amount was exclusive of the N278, 041, 172 proposed for villa office and residential maintenance.”
RENT IN ASO VILLA?
The most bizarre of all these is the N22, 321, 880 budgeted for residential rent at the State House. Who is the president paying rent to and for whom? Meals and refreshments cost N436, 054, 626, which include canteed/kitchen equipment, foodstuff and catering materials for PMB and his Vice. Gracious God.
Sporting and games equipment for the State House and Presidential Air Fleet and office of the State Head of Service of the Federation will cost Nigerians N252, 850!
FLYING CARS
N904, 015,000 will be required to acquire brand new exotic automobile fleet and its maintenance, N2, 496, 986 everyday, while N259 million is for the purchase of “Tyres, Batteries, Fuses, Toolboxes, Car Jacks, Tyre changing ‘Machines’ and Kits”, and N27, 000,000 to purchase C-Caution Signs, Fire Extinguishers, Towing Ropes and Booster Cables for just for the Aso Rock automobile fleet.
HOUSE BOAT FOR PLEASURE
Can you believe the Ministry of Defence proposes N1.39 billion for the procurement of a houseboat in Abuja, a floating house mostly used for relaxation and a dwelling place by top officers, when thousands of soldiers are dying in confrontation with Boko Haram?
N1, billion naira is needed by the Ministry of Communication Technology to purchase chairs and tables. May be golden chairs from Turkey!
The Ministry of Information and Culture budgets N99, 281,250 for 1,600 chairs at the National Theatre and N140,911,157 for computers for National Troupe of Nigeria. Lai Mohammed, the Minister cries blue murder, saying it is not his budget.
The Ministry of Interior budgeted N6.2 billion for “research and development”, the Nigerian Prison Service, N500 million “capacity building”. We have never had it so bad.
The Nigeria Immigration Service had only N86 million in 2015, but the figure graduated incredibly to N2.12 billion in the 2016 budget. Hallelujah!
CURIOUS CASES OF REPETION
National Institute of Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) proposed N15 million for water reticulation in main station and immediately allotted N5 million for the same item.
The Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology fixed allocation for “Construction/Provision of Agricultural Facilities” first for N626 million and again for N50 million.
AND THIS
PRICE GROWING WINGS
ONE ITEM, TWENTY PRICES!
Scandalous different prices were quoted for the same item by different MDAS and institutions. A unit of Toyota Hilux van was valued at N1,264,941 by the Gashaka Gumti National Park; N5,700,000 by the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency; N6, 500,000 by Federal Government Girls’ College Owerri; N7, 500,000 by the Ministry of Technology, Akure;
And N9,178,142 by Federal Government Girls’ College Umuahia; Federal Government College Ezzamgbo, Abakaliki is N10,000,000; N11,147,675 by the Federal Technical College Lassa; N12,888,016 by the Ministry of Health; N13,500,000 by the Federal Government College, Okigwe; N15,970,515 by the Foreign Service Adviser; N27,273,523 by the Federal Technical College, Ikare; and N27,660,000 by Federal Government Girls’ College Kazaure. Thus, the same hilux van graduated from N1.2 million to N27 million.
Jesus Christ, come now to our rescue. The rapture is taking too long.
