SINCE and even before the return of the democratic government in 1999, annual budget at all levels of government has always been more of a hollow ritual than a working document. Most times, its preparation is fraught with fraudulent manipulation of figures which often creates room for easy mismanagement of public funds. Meanwhile, despite the fantastic contents and realistic projections in it, it is hardly implemented when passed into law.
Often, the executive arm of government at all levels, in spite of whatever they christened the budget take advantage of the docility and compromise on the part of the legislators towards it to circumvent its proper implementation. It is for this clear reason that governments shield their budget implementation from public scrutiny, making the process a case of the more you look, the less you see.
Almost 17 years of the present democratic dispensation, nothing much has changed about budget preparation and implementation in the country, especially at the state and national levels. Controversies and scandals such as paddings, bribe-for-approval, alteration of figures and non-implementation had continued to trail the budget annually.
Fiery and outspoken Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Reverend Mathew Hassan Kukah had once told The Guardian that due to the fraud associated with budget and its implementation in the country, it is high time annual budget funds should be handed over to Nigerians for proper implementation.
With the coming into office of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government on May 29, 2015 with the change mantra, expectations were high that the modus operandi in government’s budget planning and implementation would change drastically for the betterment of Nigerians. The government took off on a slow pace with excuse of taking time to get its act together in line with its ‘change’ slogan.
Nigerians complained about the slow pace, but were assured that the government was on the right path to attaining greatness quickly. What looked like the first litmus test for Buhari’s government was the appointment of ministers, the preparation and presentation of 2016 budget.
After weeks of endless wait by Nigerians, Buhari on December 22, last year walked into a joint session of the National Assembly and presented the first annual budget proposal of his administration, christened: “Budget of Change”.
After lamenting the economic challenges that confronted the country due to the sudden fall in oil prices, Buhari promised that the budget would cut waste from government spending and its funds would only be used for public good.
“We are determined to ensure that our resources are managed prudently and utilized solely for the public good”
“To set the proper tone, one of our early decisions was the adoption of a zero based budgeting approach, which ensures that resources are aligned with government’s priorities and allocated efficiently,” Buhari said.
Resuming from the Yuletide and New Year holidays early this year, the Senate leadership raised the alarm that the budget proposal presented to the Chamber last year by the president was missing. The allegations generated mixed reactions, doubts and controversies. After initial denial, the Presidency formally wrote to the leadership of National Assembly seeking withdrawal of the budget proposal for further re-jigging.
With the commencement of the budget proposal’s defence by heads of agencies and ministries at the National Assembly, it was allegedly discovered by the various National Assembly Committees that most of the proposals in the budget draft were fraudulently padded.
While some unnamed top civil servants have been accused of being responsible for the padding, the Senate has adjourned deliberations on the document indefinitely, saying that the earlier promise of passing the budget by month end was no longer feasible.
The impasse has been eliciting mixed reactions from Nigerians, who are apparently at the receiving end of the delayed passage.
Commenting on the issue, former Minister of Transport and Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Ebenezer Babatope, told The Guardian that the Presidency and National Assembly members should be mindful of the fact that Nigerians are suffering now like never before.
He said: “Delaying the budget correction and passage is not in the best interest of Nigerians who are now finding it extremely difficult to have three square meals daily. Saying that living conditions are very tough in the country today is like stating the obvious. There is extreme hunger in the land today.”
On Senate’s indefinite adjournment over budget deliberations, Babatope said he does not think that the Senators would have the courage to do so, considering the fact that Nigerians will not be happy with them.
“The National Assembly should as a matter of urgency partner with the executive arm to resolve the budget impasse.”
In his remarks, National Chairman of United Peoples Party (UPP), Chekwas Okorie, said he found the alleged padding of the budget proposal embarrassing and criminal.
“I believe the matter should not stop at the Presidency alleging that the budget padding was done by some top civil servants. The Presidency should investigate it thoroughly and severely punish those behind the act to serve as a deterrent to others.’
“I commend the National Assembly members for doing a good job. Before now, there have been so much compromise and underhand dealings between the executive and the legislature on budget passage and implementation to the detriment of Nigerians.’
“The recent impasse is a welcome development. The National Assembly should quickly address the anomalies discovered in the budget proposal to pave way for urgent passage. Nigerians are eager to see the budget streamlined, passed and implemented. National Assembly members and other Nigerians should ensure that they strictly monitor the implementation of budget when signed into law,” Okorie said.
To a financial analyst, Mrs Juliana Okwonor, the uproar by members of National Assembly over the alleged padding of the 2016 budget proposal is an unnecessary distraction, stating that padding has been a tradition in budget planning in the country over the years.
Okwonor said: “Budget padding has been part and parcel of the budget planning in the country because there is no established budgetary process in the corridors of power. It is garbage in, garbage out, because the executive and the legislators know the budget will never been implemented to the letter.’
“In the last 16 years, how many states have shown how they implemented their annual budgets? How many people including Assembly members have taken time to monitor the implementation of the budgets? Even when people try to ask questions, government agencies and ministries will conceal facts on implementation”
“That is why government’s budgets start and end in presentation and passage. Implementation is dependent on what the executive wants to selfishly achieve with it and not in tandem with the provisions. The whole thing is about political gimmick, fraud and compromise between the executive and the legislature. It is a very dangerous trend that the present administration must use this opportunity to address seriously,’ she noted.
A public affairs analyst and politician, Maxi Okwu told The Guardian that it is important for Nigerians to realise that the Presidency has not denied responsibility in the whole budget mess. He strongly advised the Buhari government to get its act together and move the country forward.
“If there is anytime President Buhari needs to appoint a sound Economic Adviser, it is now. The president urgently needs a thoroughbred economist that can advise him well. The country is bleeding. Naira is 320 to one Dollar today. The president should stop playing the ostrich. The country appears to be in the dark and urgent solutions are needed before it is too late. The whole controversies over the budget would have been avoided if the President has assembled a good economic team. Budget is an important document that should not be prepared in a hurry or toiled with by anybody.”
