THE Presidency, said President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that provisions of the 2016 budget be uploaded on the web, for well-meaning critique.
This was as it denied reports that it was misleading Nigerians on the provisions of the budget which is now before the National Assembly.
According to a statement issued by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, in Abuja, on Sunday, the Buhari-led administration would continue to welcome well-meaning criticism of its policies, its budget and expenditure, because it was the only way the change promised the country would have a meaning.
“It is on account of this and in line with established tradition that the president directed that the draft 2016 appropriation budget, now before the National Assembly, be put on the website of the budget office, so that Nigerians can read it with a view to making their observations.
“In view of this, suggestions to the effect that the Presidency is misleading the public on any aspects of the budget cannot, therefore, stand the test of time,” the statement read.
It pointed out that in a reaction to a newspaper story that said: “2016 Budget: Buhari to spend more on State House clinic than on all FG-owned teaching hospitals,” the Budget Office supplied a summary of the allocations to the various sectors under the Ministry of Health, which showed clearly that the published story was inaccurate.
It said the budget office affirmed that in terms of both capital and recurrent allocations, the draft budget had put far more money in the 17 teaching hospitals than it did in the State House clinic.
“Having said this, we are not by any stretch of imagination suggesting that the draft budget is beyond comments or reproach, nor do we wish to dwell on this simply to make a point.
“To do that will drive away good citizens from pointing out needed corrections and ultimately defeating the change mantra of the administration.
“The budget is a Nigerian budget and citizens reserve the right to examine its content and provide their own perspectives.
“As the draft goes through the approval process, this and many other aspects will continue to generate interest, criticism, commendation and sometimes condemnation in discussions in the parliament, the media and the court of public opinion.
“We believe that the process of ‘change’ will be affected by, and stands to gain from these debates especially where there is good faith on all sides.
“Government has no reason whatsoever to mislead the citizens on the budget and on all other matters for whatever reason,” it added.(Tribune)
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