FORMER Minister of Education, Obiageli Ezekwesili, on Wednesday stated that the 2023 National Budget has a deficit larger than revenue by almost N12trillion.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on Tuesday morning signed the 2023 Appropriation Bill of N21.83trillion into law.
However, Ezekwesili in a post via her verified Twitter handle on Wednesday, described the National Budget as “hopeless” noting that she foresaw the historical mess-up for the country’s public finance.
She wrote, “This is the summary of the HOPELESS Budget @MBuhari signed into law yesterday:
“Total Expenditure is N21.83 trillion.
“Total Revenue N9.73 trillion!
“The Budget has a deficit larger than revenue by almost N12.00 trillion! Tragic.
“I foresaw this historical mess-up of our Public Finance by the @NigeriaGov of @NGRPresident @MBuhari and persistently spoke up. At all times, the Government and its praise singers replied my data-based criticisms with attacks.
“Now a full blown Debt Crisis on our hands. Sad. Recall that one of cardinal plans of the Presidential Candidate of the @OfficialAPCNg is “to delink Expenditure from Revenue” and some of you were like.”
“Better know that from the current state of our Public Finance, APC @NigeriaGov has already done so. Get and use your PVCs.”
Hobnob News on Tuesday reported that Buhari signed the 2023 transition budget at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, in the presence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and other members of the Federal Executive Council.
