OUR hypocritical senators showed their
anger at N4 billion allocated to the construction of an office for the First
Lady in the 2013 budget. We should applaud their concerns about probity. Should
we?
anger at N4 billion allocated to the construction of an office for the First
Lady in the 2013 budget. We should applaud their concerns about probity. Should
we?
Everyone
knows the First Ladyfs office is one of the illegalities of
our times. Were the Federal Capital Territory
officials, who wanted the expenditure unaware that budgets were allocated to
bodies laws recognised? Did the Senate express any anger at the FCT officials,
who made this illegal entry in its budget? Was it enough to rant about the
illegality?
knows the First Ladyfs office is one of the illegalities of
our times. Were the Federal Capital Territory
officials, who wanted the expenditure unaware that budgets were allocated to
bodies laws recognised? Did the Senate express any anger at the FCT officials,
who made this illegal entry in its budget? Was it enough to rant about the
illegality?
Anyone
who knows the Senate would wonder why the sudden display of efforts at saving
public funds. What the Senate considered scandalous was the sum, N4 billion,
not the act, the fact that some people tried to foist the illegality.
who knows the Senate would wonder why the sudden display of efforts at saving
public funds. What the Senate considered scandalous was the sum, N4 billion,
not the act, the fact that some people tried to foist the illegality.
It
may, perhaps, not be out of place if the Senate allocates funds to the project,
a personal enterprise of the Presidentfs wife. Since its argument was that the
FCT proposal was too much, it might allocate N2 billion. It must be spelt out
that the issue is the illegality of the allocation, not
how much was allocated.
may, perhaps, not be out of place if the Senate allocates funds to the project,
a personal enterprise of the Presidentfs wife. Since its argument was that the
FCT proposal was too much, it might allocate N2 billion. It must be spelt out
that the issue is the illegality of the allocation, not
how much was allocated.
FCTfs
infrastructure is decaying. Neighbouring villages do not have basic amenities,
yet all that FCT officials are thinking about is illegal appropriation of N4
billion, more money than the Federal Government allocated to each of
its brand new universities as take-off fund. A very unproductive FCT also
indulges in bogus projects like a N7.5 billion city gate.
infrastructure is decaying. Neighbouring villages do not have basic amenities,
yet all that FCT officials are thinking about is illegal appropriation of N4
billion, more money than the Federal Government allocated to each of
its brand new universities as take-off fund. A very unproductive FCT also
indulges in bogus projects like a N7.5 billion city gate.
The
Senate saw no scandal in the proposed city gate. It expressed no anger and would
have no qualms passing it. What has Abuja lost in the years that it did not
have a city gate of the type it administrators now want? No senator sees the
impact N7.5 billion can make on the lives of ordinary Nigerians. How would a
city gate improve lives in Abuja? Who would it benefit except its
contract-minded promoters? What would be the return on the investment?
Senate saw no scandal in the proposed city gate. It expressed no anger and would
have no qualms passing it. What has Abuja lost in the years that it did not
have a city gate of the type it administrators now want? No senator sees the
impact N7.5 billion can make on the lives of ordinary Nigerians. How would a
city gate improve lives in Abuja? Who would it benefit except its
contract-minded promoters? What would be the return on the investment?
Why
would the Senate encourage the circle of wastes written all over Abuja? It
would most likely borrow the money that would be wasted on the gate. A few
years hence, budgets of similar figures would be required to renovate the gate,
or to construct a more befitting gate for a city decaying in a manner that was
never associated with it.
would the Senate encourage the circle of wastes written all over Abuja? It
would most likely borrow the money that would be wasted on the gate. A few
years hence, budgets of similar figures would be required to renovate the gate,
or to construct a more befitting gate for a city decaying in a manner that was
never associated with it.
Suggestions
that FCTfs
budget should be approved are the type of insult that makes Nigerians wonder
if their legislators are in the same Nigeria, where diseases, hunger,
insecurity, unemployment are ravaging the people.
that FCTfs
budget should be approved are the type of insult that makes Nigerians wonder
if their legislators are in the same Nigeria, where diseases, hunger,
insecurity, unemployment are ravaging the people.
Abuja does not need a city gate just as
people should stop scandalising the First Lady.
people should stop scandalising the First Lady.
Source: Vanguard
