In a heated exchange on Saturday, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi criticized the federal government for allegedly implementing four national budgets concurrently, calling it a "recipe for chaos." Obi argued that this approach showed a disregard for fiscal responsibility and would lead to confusion and mismanagement of resources.
Obi emphasized that this concurrent budgeting undermines fiscal transparency and accountability, exacerbating the challenges faced by Nigerians. He urged a return to a more responsible and transparent budgeting process, prioritizing the needs of the people over political interests.
However, the Presidency swiftly refuted these claims. Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Media and Publicity, accused Obi of spreading misinformation based on false reports from BudgIT. Ajayi clarified that the government was not planning to run four budgets within a fiscal year but merely extending the capital components of the 2023 budgets to December 2024 to ensure their completion.
Ajayi criticized BudgIT for being sensational and cautioned against spreading rumors, emphasizing that sustainable development requires focusing on capital expenditures that drive growth and create employment.
The clash highlights ongoing tensions over fiscal policy and transparency in Nigeria's governance.
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