Government budgets need scrutiny by experts ― YVAN president

“All Nigerian government budgets need to be scrutinised by experts or private organisation to confirm figures quoted by any ministry or political office holder before approval by designated authorities.

”It has become imperative for all Nigerians to hold government and all politicians accountable for the current economic situation in the country.”

These were the submissions of the national president of Young Visioneers’ Association of Nigeria (YVAN), Mr Ezekiel Oladimeji, in a statement he signed and made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Thursday.

Oladimeji, who noted that research had shown that most government budgets were manufactured to create opportunity for politicians to siphon money and destroy the economy, said there was need for government to seek the opinion of independent private organisations on any proposal or budget presented by any ministry or political office holder an subject such to scrutiny before approval by the National Assembly.

Reacting to the interim suspension of the national carrier, Nigerian Air, by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, Oladimeji submitted that the suspension was as a result of poor planning and lack of proper consultation before present the project to Nigerians.

Also speaking on the claim by the Federal Government that 18,426 police personnel had been deployed for Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, the YVAN national president said there was no evidence to confirm that the number of police personnnel deployed to the state was actually 18426, saying “and why were they paid N50,000 each as special duty allowance when they are being paid salaries?”

He said all budgets should be made public to allow the general public to carry out market analysis on each itemised material.

Oladimeji who also noted that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had become toothless dogs that only defend and are answerable to those people that put them in office, said these commisions should be independent of government, saying ” the purpose of establishing such institutions have been defeated and can effectively function if they do not take instructions and orders from the president of any government institution.”