The Senator representing Abia-South Senatorial District in the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, says the 2020 budget is “nothing but a budget of taxation”, one that is not “sustainable.”
Speaking at the Senate plenary on Wednesday, Senator Abaribe argued before other lawmakers that the budget is not sustainable because debt servicing is higher than capital expenditure.
He urged the parliamentarians to look into the budget, stressing that the nation is still struggling.
The Nigerian Senate✔@NGRSenate · 9hReplying to @NGRSenate
A Bill for an Act to authorize the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation the total sum of N10,330,416,607,347… by Senate Leader.
The Nigerian Senate✔@NGRSenate
“This is nothing but a budget of taxation. I urge the Senate to look at that fact as it is not a sustainable budget. Debt servicing is higher than capital expenditure. We are still struggling. I second the budget presentation by the Senate Leader.”- Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.84:32 AM – Oct 9, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee The Nigerian Senate’s other Tweets
In reaction to Abaribe’s comment a former Governor of Benue State who now represents Benue North-East Senatorial District at the Senate, said the lawmakers need to address the nation’s borrowing methodologies.
“I commend Mr. President for bringing an ambitious budget; the deficit worries me, there is a correspondence borrowing increase; we need to do something in this Chamber by way of legislation to address borrowing,”Suswam said.
Taking a rather divergent view on the matter, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (Niger North), argued that the budget rightly addressed the economic issues besetting the nation.
He said: “This is a budget of continued change. This government is on the right trajectory.
“This budget has addressed how the micro and medium small enterprises will play a key role in building the Nigerian economy.”
Still speaking on the issue, Abdullahi said, “This budget will continue the change and ensure our citizens see a better economy.”
The Nigerian Senate✔@NGRSenate · 8hReplying to @NGRSenate
“This is nothing but a budget of taxation. I urge the Senate to look at that fact as it is not a sustainable budget. Debt servicing is higher than capital expenditure. We are still struggling. I second the budget presentation by the Senate Leader.”- Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
The Nigerian Senate✔@NGRSenate
“This is a budget of continued change. This government is on the right trajectory. This budget has addressed how the micro and medium small enterprises will play a key role in building the Nigerian economy.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.74:33 AM – Oct 9, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee The Nigerian Senate’s other Tweets
The Nigerian Senate✔@NGRSenate · 8hReplying to @NGRSenate
“This is a budget of continued change. This government is on the right trajectory. This budget has addressed how the micro and medium small enterprises will play a key role in building the Nigerian economy.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.
The Nigerian Senate✔@NGRSenate
“This budget will continue the change and ensure our citizens see a better economy.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.104:33 AM – Oct 9, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee The Nigerian Senate’s other Tweets
The Nigerian Senate✔@NGRSenate · 8hReplying to @NGRSenate
“This budget will continue the change and ensure our citizens see a better economy.”- Senator Aliyu Sabi.
The Nigerian Senate✔@NGRSenate
“I commend Mr. President for bringing an ambitious budget; the deficit worries me, there is a correspondence borrowing increase; we need to do something in this Chamber by way of legislation to address borrowing.”- Senator Gabriel Suswam.74:34 AM – Oct 9, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacySee The Nigerian Senate’s other Tweets
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday presented the 2020 Appropriation Bill to the joint sitting of the National Assembly.
The budget which the President had termed a ‘Budget of Sustaining Growth and Job Creation,’was proposed based on a 7.5% tax rate.