On Budget 2017’s N432 million cars for past leaders

IT is approximately a year ago when former President Olusegun Obasanjo accused the National Assembly of being ‘insensitive’ to the plight of Nigerians and the economy, in a letter addressed to it on the national budget. In this essay, I seek to establish what can be described as extravagance and misplacement of priority, as reflected in the proposed 2017 appropriation bill at this desperate period in the nation’s history.

On December 14, 2016, President Muhammadu Buhari presented the proposed 2017 national budget to the joint session of the National Assembly. The proposed budget has quite a number of attention-seeking inclusions. Even from its title, ‘Budget of Recovery and Growth’, Nigerians’ interests were ignited towards the N7.43trn budget proposed to bring us all out of the economic woods. Last year, padding was the crisis that rocked the budget and it was in fact the first of its kind for the Buhari presidency. It will be recalled that President Buhari confessed never to have experienced padding in the history of Nigerian politics. But even now, I see worse provisions in the 2017 budget yet to be ratified by the National Assembly.

The 2017 budget is 21 per cent higher than the 2016 budget despite the reduction in the revenue generated from oil which is the capital means of the national income. But that is not even as worrisome as some of the inclusions that pushed up the figures. In the real sense, the 21 per cent increment in the 2017 budget is explicable given the continuing devaluation of the naira, but buying cars for past Nigerian leaders will not be justifiable at this period of economic recession in the country. Things are happening really fast in this county and the rate at which the economy swiftly worsens demands quick action.

The Presidency earmarked N432 million naira for the purchase of cars for 12 past Nigerian leaders, including General Yakubu Gowon, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd), Chief Ernest Shonekan, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd); former President Goodluck Jonathan; Dr Alex Ekwueme, Commodore Okoh Ebitu Ukiwe, General Oladipo Diya, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Alhaji Namandi Sambo. This is excluding the monthly pensions which the government is compelled to fully pay and even with  10 months’ arrears, as of now.

This is a misplaced priority. From a critical perspective, none of the statesmen deemed fit for this government gesture of goodwill is in dire need of exotic cars. They all have fleets of cars and live luxury lives because of the wealth they amassed during service or through businesses. Yes, the constitution stipulates the inclusion of these entitlements in the annual budget of the country, but it is needful to also consider the state of the economy in implementing the provision. The signs of poverty are very evident in the country. Agriculture needs better funding to yield much more. Education is in shambles and yet the government is set to borrow its way out. All the country needs at this point is a policy that will produce multiplier effects on the economy not such that will be a minus.

While Nigeria intends to combat recession, the President should do so with all agility. This is a time for serious business and things must be done appropriately. While presenting his speech during the presentation of the budget, he relayed the presidency’s intention to embark on pro-economic growth policies. But the implementation of provisions such as the one addressed here will run counter to that objective. If we think we are upholding the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria by implementing the purchase of cars for past leaders, then we must equally bear in mind as well that when social conditions are weak and harsh, non-conformity becomes inevitable.

The Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) which is saddled with the responsibility of fixing the emoluments of members of the three arms of government should help review the emoluments of the past political leaders, while the National Assembly should also critically review the 2017 budget and adjust the unnecessary contents therein to make it wholly economics-driven. Again, it is time for serious business – a time of sacrifice!

• Ogunjobi writes in from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.