The presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the February 25, 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has criticised some aspect of the 2024 budget saying that the N15 billion for the building of new accommodation for the Vice-President Kashim Shettima when many Nigerians are poor is disheartening.
Obi, in a statement on this Twitter handle @PeterObi on Monday, chided the plan saying its “shocking and disheartening”, considering the many important challenges facing our nation.
He said: “Even as I am still studying the 2024 fiscal budget as presented to the National Assembly last week, I cannot wait as I am compelled to ask : what is exactly wrong with us as a country?
” I ask this question because it is hard for me to understand some of the recent happenings in our nation, in these critical times. The recent news about a budget provision of N15 billion for the construction of a new residence for the Vice President is both shocking and disheartening, considering the many important challenges facing our nation. Just recently in the Supplementary Budget, the sum of N2.5 billion was included for the renovation of the Vice President’s residence in Abuja, which means that he already has a residence.
“Again, during the budget presentation, I heard the sum of N3 billion was allocated for the renovation of the Vice President’s residence in Lagos. If we total all these sums, we would have budgeted the sum of N20.5 billion for the housing of the Vice President at this critical”.