PDP reps demand thorough scrutiny of 2020 budget

Members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party in the House of Representatives have insisted that the N10.33 trillion 2020 budget estimates be subjected to thorough legislative scrutiny to reflect the aspirations of Nigerians. Minority Leader Ndudi Elumelu, in a statement yesterday, said though the House had resolved to pass the budget before the end of the year, the details, particularly the capital expenditure items and implementation modules must meet the yearning of Nigerians before the budget is passed into law.

He said the opposition recognised that Nigerians looked up to it to protect their interest on critical issues affecting their lives, particularly on budget planning and implementation in key sectors. 

He said the details of the N2.46trn capital budget must be dissected and adjusted accordingly to ensure critical needs of Nigerians were adequately accommodated as well as to plug waste and eliminate budgetary corruption at every stage. 

“Given the sorry state of our infrastructure, the opposition must ensure that the votes earmarked by Mr. President for the rehabilitation of roads, power infrastructure, health services, agriculture, water resources, education, among other critical sectors are thoroughly scrutinized to guarantee full implementation as well as reflect the federal character principle across board”. Elumelu said budget defence must be in the open and transparent to fully carry Nigerians along in all the processes leading to budgetary decisions in all critical sectors 

The minority leadership has therefore directed all opposition members in various committees to ensure strict compliance with the democratic principles of transparency, accountability and prudence in the budget planning as well as in the implementation oversight of both the capital and recurrent components,” he said. According to him, the opposition is poised to fully monitor the implementation of special intervention funds for the unemployed as well as the welfare of the internally displaced persons in the northeast and other parts of the country to ensure that the money is not diverted as witnessed in the past under a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation.