2016 Budget: See The Provisions Nigerians Are Unhappy With

With the controversy over the “missing budget” and the revelation by the Senate that two versions of the 2016 budget proposal was submitted to the National Assembly still fresh in the memory, the appropriation bill has attracted fresh controversy.

Amid claims that the budget proposal was padded, more Nigerians are scrutinising the document. The result is a damning hashtag on Twitter. The budget proposal is trending for the wrong reason.

Using #Budgetofcorruption, many Nigerians have condemned the provisions of the N6.08tn budget proposal, saying it is not different from the ill-conceived budgets of the past.

Here are some of the provisions in the budget that has irked Nigerians...

Those who are criticising the budget said:
The government plans to spend N3.8bn on the State House Medical Centre, over N1bn on the purchase of vehicles and N89.17m on canteen/kitchen equipment.

The budget is based on an oil price benchmark of $38 per barrel even though oil prices are currently around $33 per barrel amid expectation that the price could slip to as low as $20 per barrel. This was one of the earliest problems experts pointed out in the budget.

N3.91bn was earmarked for the rehabilitation/repair of office buildings. Under the State House Headquarters votes, N278m is proposed for the maintenance of office buildings/residential quarters. This comes even after N1.328bn was allocated to the maintenance of office buildings/residential quarters in 2014 (N901.11m) and 2015 (N421.27m).

N1.71bn allocated to the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation for security equipment. The office got N316.42m in 2015 for rehabilitation/repair of electrical components.

N501.52m earmarked for Research and Development in the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation. The office got N312m for the same purpose in 2015 and N1.17bn in 2014.

For budget preparation, N1.6bn was allocated to 116 Federal Government Agencies.

N10bn allocated for office furniture to 116 FG agencies.

N795m allocated to update the website of the Ministry of Solid Minerals. 9. N30.8m allocated as rent for the Aso Rock residential building.

N13.4bn allocated to 84 Federal Government Agencies to purchase computer software.

- most of these figures have been discovered not to be the real proposals as they were doctored. But in all there are some figures in the budget that must be the changed and both arms are working on it.