Budget 2016: APC applauds social welfare package

Despite the criticism of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, of President Muhammadu Buhari’s budget proposal to the National Assembly and its conclusion that the budget, as proposed, was meant to mortgage the future of Nigerians, the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC,Tuesday, applauded the budget proposal, assuring Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will fulfill his campaign promises to the Nigerians, beginning with the 2016 budget.

This was stated by the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, in his reaction to the budget presentation, adding thattbthe present administration’s pro-people policies will be implemented full blast in 2016.

He said: “In fulfillment of APC’s election promises to the Nigerian electorate, the party welcomes the proposed Social Welfare Programmes contained in the proposed 2016 National Budget submitted to the National Assembly. President Buhari has proposed N500 billion to pay unemployed Nigerian graduates (post-NYSC grant) and feed school children, amongst other social welfare programmes in 2016.

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“A phased Social Welfare Programme created to cater for a larger population of the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians upon the evidence of children’s enrolment in school and evidence of immunization has also been proposed to the National Assembly.

“President Buhari has also promised that 500,000 new teachers would be recruited. Compared to the last 16 years of locust, Nigerians are getting a much better deal from the seven-month old APC-led administration. On the strength of these proposals, the future holds more dividends of democracy for Nigerians.

“It is reassuring that the federal government has recovered huge sums from looters of our common wealth, which will be injected into the 2016 National Budget.”

Odigie-Oyegun however called for the speedy passage of the budget, as he said: “As the National Assembly considers the proposed 2016 National Budget, the APC calls on members of the Senate and House of Representatives to rise above political, regional and ethnic sentiments and pass the proposed 2016 budget which is pro-people and in the overall best interest on Nigeria.

‎”The APC hails the very cordial working relationship between the 8th National Assembly and the executive arm of government, specifically the President.”

According to Oyegun, by personally presenting the budget, President Buhari has demonstrated his commitment to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and the dictate of the rule of law and also highlighted the importance of building a smooth working relationship with the National Assembly.

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