The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has noted the N253Billion budget proposal by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Mr Bala Muhammed, and for which the President had given his Executive approval. As expected with this profligate regime, there are items in the 2013 budget that are not just absurd but utterly outrageous.
Among the bizarre lines embedded in the Budget document are:
· N4 Billion for construction of First Lady’s mission building.
· N5 Billion for rehabilitation of commercial sex workers.
· N7 Billion for construction of two city gates.
· N150 Million for renovation of Vice President’s guest houses in Asokoro.
It is appalling to see budgetary allocation as much as four billion naira for the office of the First Lady that is not recognized by the Nation’s constitution. A cursory view of these budgetary items easily reveals that this PDP-led regime is never in short supply of nauseous financial recklessness and indescribable superfluity of indiscretion.
At a time when many Nigerians have been rendered homeless by the anti-people stance of the PDP-led FCT administration, it is ludicrous to imagine that, rather than embarking on projects in alleviating the afflictions, this clueless regime has again shown its undisguised self-centeredness. Indeed, it beggars belief that a supposed democratic government can revel in such thoughtless insensitivity!
Recently, that the N7 Billion allocation for the construction of a new home for the Vice President was mindlessly jerked up to N16 Billion. Despite the show of outrage by the Nigerian people – as evinced by their elected representatives in the National Assembly- the same regime is demanding another humongous allocation for renovating the guess houses for the same Vice-president.
It is unmistakably clear that, whilst the Nation’s rulers demand selflessness and sacrifice from Nigerians, they do not show example in walking the talk in preachment on patriotism!
As a Party, we are convinced beyond doubt that this PDP-led administration is incapable of judicious appropriation of scarce resources. It is for this reason that we call on the National Assembly to investigate this dubious budgetary approval and ensure reversal of this reported infra-dig.
God bless Nigeria.
Rotimi Fashakin (Engr)
National Publicity Secretary, CPC
(Sunday, 3rd February, 2013)
