Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu of implementing four budgets in 2024, warning that it’s a recipe for chaos and confusion.
The former Anambra State Governor made the allegation on Saturday via a statement on X.
There has been a repeated allegation that the president has been implementing more than one budget.
The allegation began a few months ago when Bauchi Senator, Abdul Ningi, accused the Godswill Akpabio-led senate of passing two budgets to the executive.
The allegation cost him several months of suspension.
Few days ago, the Senate approved the implementation of the supplementary budget from June 30 to December 31, 2024.
NewsNGR reports that in December 2023, both Chambers of the National Assembly extended the implementation period for the capital component of the budget from December 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024, along with the N2.17 trillion 2023 supplementary budget passed in November 2023.
Earlier in March, following requests made by the President, both the Senate and the House of Representatives extended the implementation period for the budgetary appropriations from March 31, 2024, to June 30, 2024.
This development of not knowing which budget the administration is implementing has forced Obi to warn that it’s a recipe for confusion and that it exposes the process to fraud.
Obi said, “All available evidence has confirmed that the Nigerian government is implementing four national budgets concurrently.
“This is in blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. It is also a recipe for chaos, confusion, and catastrophe.
“This intentionally reckless action will lead to frivolous items in the approved budgets competing with essential projects for limited resources, further exacerbating the suffering of the Nigerian people.
“It indicates that the Leaders are out of touch with reality and lack the competence to manage our nation’s finances effectively.
“Unfortunately, this deliberate act of fiscal recklessness is being undertaken by elected representatives of the people, thereby betraying one of the cardinal pillars of democracy,” Obi said.
Obi stressed that, “Leaders are elected to responsibly manage public resources in an organised way. I respectfully appeal and in fact, demand that this situation be reversed immediately in preference for a more responsible and transparent approach to budgeting.
“We must prioritise the needs of the Nigerian people, not the selfish interests of a few.
“This is a call to action for all Leaders to desist from actions that will further drive the country into economic chaos.”
He emphasised that, “Neither the National Assembly nor the executive has any excuse to promote or condone such unconscionable behaviour.
“We seek and insist on a nation governed by leaders who are frugal and responsible in their handling of public resources.
“This is the only way we can build a great nation.”