Presidency Replies Peter Obi Over Observations On 2023 Budget

The Presidency has replied to the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, over his observations on the 2023 Supplementary Budget.

Naija News earlier reported that Obi, in a statement via his X handle, said the 2023 supplementary budget did not reflect mostly pressing national needs and emergencies of national welfare.

The LP flagbearer said no budget was made to fight hunger in the country after the United Nations (UN) and World Food Programme recently alerted that up to 6.5 million Nigerians will go hungry next year.

Obi also noted that no fund was earmarked for urgent social welfare in the supplementary budget, saying that the items that dominated public discourse on the budget include a mysterious Presidential yacht, and official vehicles among others.

He stated that the Bola Tinubu government’s overall attitude does not indicate that it is aware that the country is in a huge crisis, nor is the government in tune with the plight of the generality of the people.

Reacting in a series of posts via his X account, presidential aide, Dada Olusegun, advised Obi to always perform due diligence before critiquing government actions moving forward to establish a credible opposition.

Olusegun said the National Security and Defense received an allocation of N605 billion in the overall budget to fight insecurity and N400 billion was designated for Cash Transfers to Households, aimed at mitigating subsidies’ effects and granting credit access to market women.

The presidential aide stated that N210 billion was earmarked for wage awards for federal government workers and N200 billion was set aside for Agricultural Inputs and Infrastructure, including support for dry season farming beginning next week.

He wrote: “The National Security and Defense received an allocation of N605 billion in the overall budget.

“An amount of N400 billion was designated for Cash Transfers to Households, aimed at mitigating subsidies’ effects and granting credit access to market women.

“N210 billion was earmarked for wage awards for federal government workers.

“N200 billion was set aside for Agricultural Inputs and Infrastructure, including support for dry season farming beginning next week.

“N300 billion was allocated for the construction of roads and bridges nationwide. N100 billion was dedicated to critical infrastructure projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

“N10 billion was allocated for student loans, scheduled to commence in January.

“Sir, To establish a credible opposition, it is essential to perform due diligence before critiquing government actions moving forward.”