The Nigerian budget office denied 27 Billion allocation for the renovation of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Thursday 4th June, 2020.
“The provision for the renovation of the National Assembly Complex in the revised budget is N9.25bn not N27bn”. The director general of the budget office, Ben Akabueze, said in a statement.
“The initial provision of the N37bn in the 2020 Appropriation Act was cut by 75% due to the impact of covid 19 on the government revenue”.
The director generals statement was in reaction to media reports the said that the Nigerian government had approved 27bn to renovate the National Assembly Complex.
The report went viral and Drew wide criticisms from citizens who said that such amount off money can do other things. Many said It was another plot to siphon public funds.
The Human Right Writers of Nigeria (HURIWA) the President led adminstration and the Assembly for allegedly approving the budget for renovation and called for a National Protest.
The Human Right group said the approval of the budget for the renovation of the National Assembly Complex is a criminal, dubious and is a bribe for the Senate and House of Representatives to continue remaining quite easy to control and subservient to the whims of the lawless executive arm of government.
Aside the fund to renovate the complex, education and basic health-care are being cut by the government.
But contary to the reports, the director general said education and basic health care where only cut to fit 1% of the consolidated revenue fund as by the law.
“Statutory transfer of UBEC and BHCPF are set at 2% and 1% respectively of the consolidated revenue fund by the Law. Therefore when the covid 19 eroded the consolidated revenue fund, the budgetary provisions were cut in accordance to the law. Said the director general.
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