Enyinnaya Abaribe
It has been revealed that inconsistencies in budgetary processes and duplications of sub-heads accounted largely for poor implementation of the federal government budget since 1999.
For instance, the sum of N1.4 billion was alleged to have been used for the acquisition of computer software in the office of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation on the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan between 2012 and 2015.
The senator representing Abia South senatorial district, Abia State, Enyinnaya Abaribe, disclosed this yesterday this at the 2015 Faculty of Social Sciences Annual Lecture, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.
Abaribe, who spoke on the lecture topic: ‘Our Country, Our Budget: A Critical Analysis of Nigerians Budgeting System’, observed that the office of the SGF in this year’s budget, had N1.223 billion as welfare package, while, the sum of N580 million was for subscription to professional bodies.
A breakdown of the money appropriated in the last four years, he said showed that in 2012, N250million was appropriated for software acquisitions, yet the sub-head according to him appeared again gulping N100 million, while, the sum of N580 million budgeted for the same expenditure.
“I begin with the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. What could justify the allocation of N1.223 billion to that office for welfare packages? The same office also has $367.715 million for subscription to professional bodies and $580 million for computer software acquisition.
“Computer software in this case constitutes a veritable sink holes for Ministries, Departments and agencies seeking to pillage the treasury. Still on this office, let’s take time to examine this computer software acquisition. In 2012, $250 million was appropriated for Software Acquisitions. In 2013, the subhead appeared again, gulping N100 million.
“Now in 2014, N580 million was appropriated for it. Pray, what is this computer software that a particular office acquire every year? Which privately owned company acquires computer Software to the tune of N100 million and more every year? If you check the budget for every Ministry, Department and Agency (NDA) of the federal government, you will see identical provisions for computers, software and consumables year-in-year out”, Abaribe who graduated from the Faculty of Social Sciences of the university 30 years ago, said.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Benin, Prof. Sam Edo, gave an insight on the purpose of the annual lecture series, which he said foster interactions between the government and the governed through the requisite exposition, thereby making learning pleasurable.
Chairman of the occasion and the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Faraday Orawesee whose goodwill was delivered by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Ekehuan Campus, Prof. Aduwa Ogiegbaen, vowed that the school will not lose sight of its academic excellence.
This day
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