No Plan To Run Four Budgets – Presdiency Replies Obi

The Presidency has denied allegations by Peter Obi that the Tinubu administration plans to run four budgets within a fiscal year, calling the claims misinformation.

EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Presidency has dismissed claims by the non-profit organization BudgIT that President Bola Tinubu’s administration plans to run four budgets within a fiscal year.

The Senate had resumed plenary on Thursday to extend the capital section of the 2023 supplementary budget.

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On Friday, BudgIT’s Country Director, Gabriel Okeowo, expressed concern that the Federal Government might be drafting a 2024 supplementary budget to be implemented alongside the 2023 yearly budget, the 2023 supplementary budget, and the 2024 annual budget. Okeowo condemned this potential development, stating it would cause severe budget credibility issues.

Former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, also criticized the move, calling it a blatant disregard for fiscal responsibility, transparency, and accountability. Obi argued that this approach would lead to frivolous items in approved budgets competing with essential projects for limited resources, worsening the suffering of the Nigerian people.

In response, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, refuted the allegations. Ajayi stated via X that the Federal Government is not planning to run four budgets within a fiscal year, as claimed. He also criticized Peter Obi for spreading misinformation based on BudgIT’s unverified report.

Ajayi’s statement read, “Yesterday, @BudgITng raised a false alarm based on rumors that the FG is planning a 2024 supplementary budget. It is important to state that the FG is not planning to run four budgets within a fiscal year, as alleged.”

“The National Assembly only approved that implementation of the capital components of the 2023 budget and 2023 supplementary should be extended to December 2024 to achieve its objectives.

“Our country can’t achieve sustainable development when Federal, States and Local governments focus on only consumptive expenditures, which is essentially what recurrent expenditures represent.

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“It is the capital expenditures that drive economic growth, strengthen private sector output and create employment opportunities for citizens.

“As a reputable civic organisation, Budgit can not afford to be flippant and be unduly sensational. Expectedly, @PeterObi has jumped on the false claims to push his new round of misinformation.”

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