Opposition Slam Tinubu Over N14.3bn Budget For Computers

Opposition parties have faulted the Federal Government’s plan to spend N14.3 billion for the procurement of new computers for 20 of its Ministries, Departments and Agencies as highlighted in the 2025 Appropriation Bill.

It would be recalled that Tinubu presented a N49.7 trillion budget to the joint session of the National Assembly where the purchase of computers for the MDAs at the cost of N14, 261,940,152 was included.

The Ministry of Education alone requested N3.9bn while the scrapped Ministry of Sports Development requested N1.1bn to procure new systems.

Some MDAs, such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control sought N202m, while the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation asked for N797m to buy similar electronic gadgets.

However, criticisms have trailed the budget proposals labelled under the ‘Purchase of Computers’ section, with major political parties calling for its rejection.

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The National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Obiora Ifoh, while commenting on the budget, frowned at the demands, saying a considerable number of the consumables and capital projects in the budget were designed to enrich a few persons in government.

Ifoh, who spoke with Sunday PUNCH on Friday, questioned why the government buys computers every year when they can last for five years.

He said, “A computer can last for at least five years, why buy them every year? Are they used by human beings or animals? Who takes the ones they are trying to phase out after one year? We are not even sure whether there are mechanisms in place to verify whether these electronic gadgets are bought.

“Aside from the computers, I also understand that virtually all the MDAs and the rest are asking for new vehicles. The question is, what are you doing with the ones you have? There has to be a total moratorium on some of these unnecessary demands, including cars and computers. Put those resources into productive investment.

“Nigeria’s corruption is endemic and it takes a leadership that knows what it is doing to stop it. You can’t just continue to approve computers every year. It simply shows they are conduits to rip the nation of taxpayers’ money. There is nothing anyone can do until the government begins to assert itself and rid the administration of corruption.”

Speaking in the same vein, the National Publicity Secretary of the New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, said President Tinubu doesn’t appear as someone genuinely serious about his intention to rein in fiscal indiscipline and get the economy grinding.

He said, “It is not just about revenue generation. Is it only the computer budget we spotted, how about the vehicles and renovations? Is it that they change cars and computers every year or they just can’t maintain them for four years before calling for change?

“These questions bring to the fore the belief that this government is not sincere with Nigerians regarding its reforms. I have studied President Tinubu well from Lagos. He always seems to think that the government is working once revenue is increasing.

“They do not understand how to balance the budget as well as to find equilibrium between revenue generation and the welfare of the people. You don’t kill your people because you want to generate revenue. Again, is the revenue you are generating for the benefit of the people or the lifestyle of people in governance?”

Also, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Timothy Osadolor, said the 14.3bn computer budget was a reflection of corruption.

“How do you budget N14.3bn again for new computers? Are they using them to see heaven or the future?’ he questioned