Obi seeks review of 2024 budget

A comprehensive review of the 2024 budget has been demanded by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party for 2023, who cited serious concerns about the country's deteriorating security situation, widespread poverty, food insecurity, and deteriorating infrastructure.

Obi's call comes amid debates over the present budget and how its resources are being allocated, according to a statement released on Monday through X.

"After following the controversies surrounding the 2024 budget and reading through some of the budgetary provisions and resource allocations, I humbly request a thorough review of the entire budget," he said.

Obi emphasised the seriousness of the situation and called for quick action from the legislative and executive branches, saying, "The Executive and Legislative arms should initiate an immediate review of the budget as it is still in early days of implementation in order to enable them to do urgent virement of resources to critical areas.”
Obi noted the need to allocate adequate funding to critical sectors such as security, poverty alleviation, food security, and power supply.
He emphasised that "especially considering the difficult times that we are in, the nation's resources should adequately be appropriated to critical areas like security, fighting poverty and solving the challenges of hunger and food insecurity, power supply."

Obi brought attention to the problems the country faces with hunger, unstable food supplies, and insufficient power.

"Food prices are continually rising beyond the reach of the majority of Nigerians, making us one of the world's most impoverished and challenging countries to live in. More than 60% of Nigerians are without power, which means that the country's power supply is appallingly inadequate and that most people live in complete darkness.

With roughly 20 million children not attending school, we currently occupy the enviable title of having the greatest number of absentee students. We must remove our kids from the streets and provide them with a foundational education.

Thus, I implore the legislative and executive branches to take into account the numerous difficulties confronting our country and reallocate funds to these vital sectors. Obi wrote, "Now is the moment for total sacrifice.