PDP says proposed 2020 budget will create openings for diversion of public funds

The Peoples Democratic Party has said the 2020 appropriation bill presented by President Muhammadu would further impoverish Nigerians and mortgage the future of the country.

PDP therefore appealed to the National Assembly to redirect the 2020 budget to areas that would better serve the interest of majority of Nigerians.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that President Buhari on Tuesday presented the 2020 appropriation bill of N10.729 trillion before a joint session of the National Assembly.

Reacting in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP claimed that “the core of the budget remains hazy, showing streaks of padding, duplication, replete with false performance indices, deceptive projections and inexplicable expenditure assertions.”

READ ALSO: President Buhari presents 2020 budget of N10.729 trn

These Ologbondiyan claimed would create openings for diversion of public funds.

“The budget is skewed to serve the interest of the opulent, as projects that have direct bearing on the well being of the masses were not substantially accommodated in the overall expenditure profile,” he said.
Ologbondiyan also criticised what he termed allocations for “alleged vague projects,” particularly the Ministries of Works and Housing as well as Transportation, where, according to him, there were allegations of diversion of public funds in the last budget.

“Standing with millions of Nigerian youths and women, our party rejects the paltry budgets of N48bn for education and N46bn for health; and urges the National Assembly to review the allocations in the interest of Nigerians.”

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