Mr President, a budget that increases spending up to 30% based solely on borrowing, in what way are we justified? This is not a budget of 'CHANGE' - Sen. Abaribe

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe
Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) on
Wednesday in Abuja, berated the 2016 budget,
stating that, it is not a budget of 'Change'. He
then called on President Muhammaduu Buhari to
withdraw it and go back to the drawing board.
''Mr President, a budget that moves domestic
spending within Aso Villa from N580 million to
N1.7 billion cannot be a budget of change.'' He
said.
Abaribe while making contributions during the
consideration of the budget, said the proposal
was faulty on many grounds and could not be
implemented at it was.
He said that predication of oil benchmark at 38
dollars per barrel when the crude oil price had
fallen below 30 dollars per barrel made the
budget unrealistic.
Abaribe faulted the government for increasing
spending by 30 per cent based on borrowing.
''Mr President, my colleagues, this budget is
indeed unique. After the budget presentation, the
finance minister has never come to explain the
details of the budget as it is normally done.
''It is a budget of change I agree, but it is a
change in the wrong direction. I say it is a
change in the wrong direction because it says
that it is based on zero budgeting requiring all
expenses to be fully justified.
''Mr President, a budget that increases
spending up to 30 per cent based solely on
borrowing, in what way are we justified? That is
the question we want to ask the people who
brought this budget.
''We know what is going on in the global
economy: this budget is predicated on an oil
benchmark of 38 dollars per barrel and I can
now say that with oil being 28 dollars today,
this budget is dead on arrival.
''The job of the opposition is to help the
government to get its priorities right, so I want
to please urge this government to withdraw this
budget and go back to the drawing board.'' He
said.
The senator also faulted the adjustments made
in the budget as well as allocation for spending
in the Aso Rock Villa, saying that it was too
exorbitant.
He said that the adjustments rather than reduce
spending in areas where they were not
necessary only spread it into different offices.
''We were told that in the revised budget there
was an adjustment due to error, we agree but
what has happened is that up to N7 billion were
moved from buying vehicles and spread to
offices.
''It also increased the spending that is due to
renovations within the Villa.
''They are going to renovate the Villa with
N3.9 billion, what else do you want to renovate
there that Nigerians will see in the Year 2016?''
He asked.