PRESS STATEMENT
The All Nigeria Peoples Party [ANPP] received with interest the comment credited to the Senate President David Mark during his address at the resumption of the Senate from recess on Wednesday where he said that budgets have dashed the hopes of Nigerians for an improved living condition, while elucidating that hopes raised over the years by budgets for a better life have remained ‘‘largely unrealised’’. Bearing in mind that a national budget is the most important economic policy instrument for governments and has the singular duty of translating the campaign promises, political commitments and goals of the government in power into visible parameters in the lives of the citizenry, we believe that the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] government has failed the people of Nigeria with whom they have a social contract.
During the recent celebration of its 14th Anniversary, the PDP gave itself a pass mark and boasted laying a new solid foundation for socio-economic prosperity for the nation. But now it is self-evident that the words coming from the Senate President has shown the emptiness of such claims. This is because experts have averred that the budget system and process in any country are central in determining the extent to which it has an open, democratic and participatory system of government; and that any failed budget has automatically and fundamentally reduced the standard of living of the citizens. The PDP government is known to make appointments based strictly on patronage and not on patriotism; these appointed men and women disregard best practices in budget implementation and assessment, and feather their nests in detriment to the country and the citizens.
Nonetheless, our great party commends the National Assembly for standing on its constitutional responsibilities, and feeling the pulse of the people. We stand by the Senate in its avowed resolve to activate and deploy its weapon of oversight to meticulously monitor budget performance, while insisting on full implementation of the expected 2013 budget. The ANPP therefore urges them to insist and ensure that the whole stages in budget cycle – formulation, enactment, execution and auditing – adhere to internationally accepted best practices. As a party we recognize that fiscal discipline, effective allocation and efficient public service are the ingredients the country needs now more than ever to curb the recurring decimal of failed budgets, for the people to benefit from the abundant resources this great country is endowed with.
Signed:
Hon Emma Eneukwu
National Publicity Secretary
ANPP
21-09-12
