Obi Advocates For Total Review Of 2024 Budget, Wants Resources In Critical Areas

Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate in the 2023 general election, has urged the Executive and Legislative branches of government to immediately begin the review of the 2024 budget and allocate funds to critical areas.

Obi, in response to the budget controversies, stated that it is still too early to revisit the appropriations and ensure that public resources are allocated to critical areas such as security and poverty alleviation, among others.

On Monday, in a press statement from Dr Yunusa Tanko, Chief Spokesman, the former Anambra State Governor wrote on his X handle, “Having followed the controversies surrounding the 2024 budget, and having read some of the budgetary provisions and resource allocations, I wish to respectfully appeal for a total review of the entire budget.”

“The Executive and Legislative branches should conduct an immediate review of the budget because it is still in the early stages of implementation, allowing them to direct resources to critical areas.

“Given the difficult times we are in, the nation’s resources should be allocated appropriately to critical areas such as security, poverty alleviation, and power supply.

“In the last year, approximately 7000 Nigerians have been kidnapped, with approximately 700 kidnapped in the last three weeks, despite the violent crimes and killings that occur throughout the country, which must have included us as one of the world’s riskiest countries to live in.

“On March 12, 2024, a report in the globally respected publication Financial Times described Nigeria’s kidnapping racket as a sign of a failed state. With all of this going on in our country, how can we attract foreign investors while also maintaining the trust of domestic investors?

“We have become one of the world’s hungriest and most difficult countries to live in, with food prices constantly rising beyond the reach of most Nigerians.

“Power supply is abysmally poor, and more than 60% of Nigerians are now in total darkness.

“Even those in supposedly privileged areas are now without power for days on end.

“According to the 2022 Energy Progress Report, Nigeria has the highest proportion of people without access to electricity, with 92 million of its over 200 million people living without it.

“Approximately 80% of our primary healthcare facilities are not operational. Most Nigerians can no longer afford medical treatments and medicines.

“We now have the enviable distinction of having the most out-of-school children, with approximately 20 million out of school.

“We need to take our children off the streets and provide them with access to basic education.

“I, therefore, urge our executive and legislative branches to consider the numerous challenges confronting our country and re-allocate resources to these critical areas.

“Now is the time for total sacrifice. A New Nigeria is still a distinct possibility.