Nigeria’s budget process needs reforms – NLC

Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) says the nation’s budget processes are inherently flawed, and therefore require urgent reform.
The NLC spoke against the crisis rocking the House of Representatives over the allegation of the padding of the 2016 budget, describing it as evidence that the budgeting system was weak.
The NLC in a statement by Peter Ozo-Eson, its general secretary, stated that the allegation “revealed imperfections and distrust in project identification/implementation system and consequent failure of the present model of capital budgeting without a development plan framework.
“It shows that projects are not implemented according to needs-value or priority but who is behind which. In light of the foregoing, we wish to state that instead of going after individuals, government should do a soul-search as well as x-ray a budgeting system that fails to address the needs of the people.”
The NLC further cautioned against the use of the development to settle political scores or unduly weaken the National Assembly.
“A strong National Assembly is a necessity for a vibrant democracy. We urge Nigerians to be slow to anger in matters of this nature, even as they have little or no reason to be too trusting of any political office holder, so that in the end, they do not end up victims of other peoples’ wars,” the NLC advised.
The NLC called for caution, saying, “how the issues in contention are resolved will shape the direction of our democracy; deepen or weaken it. Equally important is the fact that it avails us an opportunity to revisit our budgetary system and the need for development planning.”