National Assembly
In the 7.44 trillion Naira 2017 budget, 455.41 billion Naira was allocated to the education sector, but the lecturer describes it as grossly inadequate.
It does not correspond with the UNESCO standard, which stated that 26% of the nation’s budget must be allocated to education, the lecturer insisted.
The allocation to the education sector is less than 8%.
The varsity don told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that with such allocation, the nation’s education standard that had dropped would remain in the doldrums.
He wants the Federal Government to improve budgetary allocation to the sector if the country must compete with the rest of the world.
“The amount for education makes the country look unserious, considering the UNESCO requirement. This is so small if we must take education as the bedrock of development.
“The budget remains an instrument of planning which affects every aspect of the citizenry. As a document, it is what the country relies on in its expenditure and must be taken seriously.
“The government should exhibit political will and sense of commitment in implementing the 30 per cent capital budgetary allocation if the country must come off the current economic recession,” he said.
One issue that critics have raised is the implementation of the budget and the lecturer believes that if the Federal Government could set aside partisan politics to implement the 2017 30 per cent capital projects, “we shall be out of economic recession”.
“Contractors will be out executing projects, they will need workers to work on sites, constructions will be on, and this will have a multiplier effect on the economy.”
He also believes that the full implementation of capital projects would empower the people and also ensure redistribution of wealth.
Mustapha also frowned at the way the National Assembly increased the budget by 143 billion Naira from the 7.298 trillion Naira proposed by President Muhammadu Buhari to 7.44 trillion Naira.
“Such increase will not augur well for the country.
“I take side with the executive that increasing the budget while the country is still grappling with 3 trillion Naira deficits can be suicidal, we should be wary of deficit because most of it will be used for recurrent at the end of the day.”
“The increase is needless, we can make do with the proposed one by the executive without tinkering with it, since the increase is on recurrent and not on capital expenditure, the national assembly should exercise caution,” he added.
The lecturer cautioned the legislative arms of government to be realistic in their budgeting process while calling for synergy between the two arms of government to fast-track development.
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