National Assembly’s task of scrutiny, prudence on 2025 budget

As the National Assembly reviews and queries submissions by the ministries, agencies and departments of government (MDAs) in the ongoing defence of the 2025 Appropriation Bill, lawmakers should ensure that allocations tally with the economic realities of the day.

Nigerians demand that priority be given to capital projects as against recurrent votes that benefit a handful of bureaucrats. Let this exercise not be like others, where even NASS members are accused of pursuing their interests at the expense of the people, including padding of budgets. 
 
No doubt, Nigeria is at a crossroads presently and all hands must be on deck to restore the country on the path of sustained growth. Hence, President Bola Tinubu christened the 2025 Budget that of Restoration: Securing peace and rebuilding prosperity. But there can be no peace and prosperity where there is no economic justice. For the promise by the President to be realised, implementation of the budget should be devoid of poor judgment across the board. 
   
Admittedly, errors have been made in the process of putting the document together. The cut-and-paste mentality prevalent in budget-making exercises over the years allows fraud to be committed, overtly or covertly and by error of omission and commission.
    
For example, the allocation of a lump sum of N2.49 trillion to the five regional development commissions in the budget without clear delineation and disaggregation of its components renders it vulnerable to eventual discretionary abuse. Nigerians have raised concerns in that regard and they want the lawmakers to take measures for requisite adjustments, particularly in the area of reducing governance costs. 
  
The cost of governance is already too high, and it is strongly advocated that concerted and deliberate efforts be made to bring it down. The task before the National Assembly is to carry out a critical overview of the Appropriation Bill and ensure that critical areas of the economy and social life of citizens are accorded priority. As noted by former Vice President Abubakar Atiku, what is proposed as allocation to the civil service is too high and cannot sustain economic growth. 
 
According to him, “government’s recurrent expenditure remains disproportionately high, with over N14 trillion (30% of the budget) allocated to operating an oversized bureaucracy and supporting inefficient public enterprises.” He advised President Tinubu to prioritise the reduction of inefficiencies in government operations. 

Surely, the country cannot afford in these hard times to commit its hard-earned resources to unproductive ventures and the luxury lifestyle of a few people in government.
 
Similarly, Citizens Wealth Platform (CWP), a non-government organisation has argued that the government can save around N27 billion by pruning the frivolous allocation for the State House headquarters. The platform regrets that there is an alarming number of inappropriate, unclear and wasteful proposals in the budget that will ultimately be funded with borrowed money.