Dogara: Despite recession exit, Nigerians still suffering
Many Nigerian families are still suffering and struggling for survival despite the fact that the country has technically exited recession, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara has said.
Giving the votes of thanks at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s budget presentation yesterday, Dogara said Nigerian leaders must act quickly to bring succour to the people.
He said the preparation for the budget did not get adequate consultations between relevant committees of the National Assembly and government agencies.
“May I also use this opportunity to congratulate Mr. President for leading Nigeria out of recession. Although recession has technically ended, most Nigerian families are still struggling. As a government, we must do all within our powers to hasten their long night of panic and fear into a glorious morning. We must never allow this nation to slide into recession, not now, not ever again.
“We cannot, therefore, discountenance policy consistency and synergy between all stakeholders, if we must sustain economic growth and development, going forward. Mr. President, I urge that you take no prisoners in the implementation of your well-crafted and thoughtout Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, which you launched in January 2017.
“Once again, let me place it on record that the 2018 Budget preparations suffer from inadequate consultations between the MDAS and various over- sighting Committees of the National Assembly. Consequently, one can only hope and pray that it does not lead to delay in consideration and passage of the Budget.
Dogara also expressed reservation about the implementation of the 2017 budget so far, saying “as legislators, what agitates us is the prospects of totally abandoning the 2017 budget and the dire consequences of doing so.
“The questions that must be answered include whether we have effectively enforced 2017 fiscal targets and whether managers have complied with the budget as authorized by the legislature.”
He said the Executive must redouble its efforts in implementing the 2017 budget, “if we must retire it in January or at the very least roll over most of the projects in 2017 budget to 2018.
“No need to remind us that fiscal indiscipline is as grievous a problem as corruption which this Government is busy eliminating,” he said.