In the last few weeks, a lot of scripted and unscripted drama unfolds on the matters of the 2016 budget. The movie received so many views at stage play set and different ‘social-media-cinemas’. The reel projected on Twitter with several hash tags, topical posts and controversial comments on Facebook screens with stockpile of images and infographics on instagram too.

The most interesting of this drama was the #‎BudgetOfYam‬s featuring several young men and women discussing the fraudulent intentions of the 2016 budget. Honestly, as much as I enjoyed the whole drama characterized by these pundits in the public square of the national polity discussions, I still see some comments were based on just the amount involved, especially when it is said to be about 35.4% over 2015 budget which makes it the highest budget so far in history without understanding the narratives.
So, before I get into the narratives I need to make some clarification and definition of terms to avoid misunderstanding of intent and purpose.

Definition of Terms

I use the word "Dummies" as a caption for the class of people that really doesn't understand the underlying factors which led into the huge figure The Budget 2016 carries. I am not saying this is ignorance on their part rather an indication of differences in interests, level of education, exposure, technicalities and discipline. You will agree with me that because you buy a car for NGN5, 000,000 (five million naira) does not mean you know how much each parts of the car would cost if the need to repair or replace any of it arise.

It is simple. You are not an "auto-mechanic" or an engineer, so you can only ask to understand why it cost that much and not begin to criticize the "auto-mechanic" for calling a certain price. So is the case of the 2016 Budget and I will try to narrate it shortly for your perusal after which whatever you decide is completely in your own interest.

I will also like to define the following terms too:

Budget 2016 is presented as the Budget of Change - The 2016 budget focus is largely an initiation of a sustainable ECONOMIC GROWTH, JOB CREATION, INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT and SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME, DIVERSIFICATION of the revenue base from NON-OIL REVENUE, particularly from AGRICULTURE and SOLID MINERALS.

Capital Expenditure - As seen on www.businessdictionary.com - It is an amount spent to acquire or upgrade productive assets (such as buildings, machinery and equipment, vehicles) in order to increase the capacity or efficiency of a company for more than one accounting period. It is also called capital spending.

In our context, it means the budget is targeted towards SPENDING on what will be PRODUCTIVE, INVESTING on ASSETS that will improve YOUR quality of LIFE.

Recurrent Expenditure - The definition of recurrent expenditure in the dictionary is ongoing expenditure of an organization, such as salaries and travelling expenses.

In this context, it shows the MONEY that will be SPENT with no 'Direct impact on YOU' except if you, your family member or parents are PUBLIC SERVANTS, members of the NATIONAL ASSEMBLY or POLITICAL OFFICE HOLDER.

The Budget 2016 Narratives

The total estimated expenditure (money to be spent in the country) is put at N6.08 Trillion out of which N1.85Trillion or 30% of the total expenditure is Capital Expenditure. This will be the first time that capital expenditure budget of the country will be this high.

Meanwhile, N4.23Trillion or 70% of the total expenditure is the Recurrent. This is what this administration proposes to spend in running this country in the current year 2016.

Although, PMB already stated that he will further cut the recurrent expenditure in the coming years to free up more funding for infrastructural development. However, it is important to consider how this administration intends to spend this huge amount – N6.08 Trillion already budgeted as the total estimated expenses for the year.

I will use the terms Recurrent Expenditure and Capital Expenditure respectively to describe the amount allocated to few key Ministries that get the larger chunks of this budget which I think justify the high budget proposition in the first place:

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF DEFENCE 294,525,795,702 134,572,387,040

I am sure you will agree with me that security is of great concern in this country. This figure shows that the administration will invest N134.5B in purchasing security equipment, weaponry, and build barracks to secure our National heritage and at the same time a pretty good amount – N294.5B – will be spent as salaries and welfare of our soldiers at the warfront. Isn’t that a good move? Continue reading.

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION 369,556,376,895. 37,000,000,000

Education in this country is in serious shambles, our public schools is at its lowest level anyone can imagine due to lack of basic facilities, the education board lack administrative capabilities with insufficient number of teachers too and the few good ones are going on strike anytime they have mood swing. PMB administration is proposing to commit staggering N369.5B as recurrent expense on the Ministry as salaries, welfare packages entitlements, benefits and spend just N37B for facilities to enhance operational efficiency. Moves like this may reduce indefinite strike and inefficiencies that is ravaging the education sector in our country and there will be no excuse for non-performance.

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HEALTH 221,712,151,746. 35,670,000,000

I don’t know how many people lost their family members, husbands, wives, children or loved ones in this country over a couple of years combine due to our health workers turning our hospitals to a football pitch where they ‘strike’ consistently to score their points. With this budget, PMB is saying there’s no such thing again. He is saying I will give you what you want by committing N221.7B to your welfare and salaries so that you won't have to go on strike again and Nigerians won't have to lose their loved ones to inefficiency and perhaps you will develop capacity to serve our rich citizens well to utilize our health Centre too. Will you call this #BudgetOfYams?

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF INTERIOR 145,282,766,543 53,070,000,000

Our Police Service Department, Civil Defense operations, Prison Services and more are part of this Ministry. This government said they will pay more attention to them. PMB propose to spend N145.2B to ensure they protect our civil rights and not block roads to collect N50 or connive with some people to wreak havoc in the society. He is proposing to improve Prison Services and Civil Defense operations by paying them what they are due to do their work and reduce civil crisis in the best way possible. I think I like this.

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION – 13,797,393,980 202,000,000,000

Many people are dying to secure a room apartment in Lagos because there are opportunities here. In fact the few that could secure accommodation are paying through their nose. But if our railroads are working and we have other transportation system that are efficient you can be living like a king that you are in your own world at Molete or Dugbe in Ibadan and work on the Island in Lagos and back to your kingdom in Ibadan same day without sweat. PMB said we can do something to reduce the hardship and he proposes to invest N202B.... OMG! To build transport systems with just N13.7B as salaries to the Ministry and you still call this #BudgetOfYams?

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS POWER & HOUSING – 34,245,043,369. 433,400,000,000

See the combination of these three Ministries shows alignment for operational efficiency in delivering what is most needed to ensure good life and average standard of living for a common man on the streets. This administration intend to invest N433B on Road projects, Housing and Power generation with only N34.2B as salaries, for God's sake you should pause for a while and judge it yourself if the budget worth the increase or not.

CAPITAL IN FGN SPECIAL INTERVENTION PROGRAMME – 300,000,000,000. 200,000,000,000

If you add the Recurrent Expenditure and Capital Expenditure together, this is N500Billion projected as social welfare intervention programme for 2016. Included in the programme is the school feeding programme initiative, Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) to the most vulnerable and Post-National Youth Service Corps grant. And if you add other Capital Supplementation Expense Heads of N170B to it that will make it N670B altogether. I think this is good.

POLICE FORMATIONS AND COMMAND –
283,091,240,698 17,009,090,000

See this one, PMB want to encourage our Policemen by ensuring they get paid as and when due, have monies to feed their families, have something in their pockets at all time and stop the armed-robbery stop-n-search activities on the highways. He is proposing N283B as salaries, entitlements, benefits and other welfare arrangement to give them a good life for serving their fatherland. I don't know about you but I think things are getting better in this country.

I will stop the narratives of the Budget on these few key Ministries and sectors not to bore you and just in case you are wondering how will they ensure this works. Read the next line

Do You Still Doubt If This Will Work?

I am glad to inform you that the Efficiency Unit set up by the Federal Government together with effective implementation of the Government Integrated Financial management Information Systems (GIFMIS) and the Integrated Personnel Payroll information System (IPPIS) is said to drive a reduction of overheads by at least 7%, personnel costs by 8% and other service wide votes by 19%.

I know this may seem to be like one of those propaganda and political machination to kill our economy but, I want you to take a moment and consider how much is already realized from some Permanent Secretaries of key Ministries such as the ones mentioned above that did not allow good budget like this work in time past. What about those Political figures that are healthy and kicking our wealth into their personal coffers when in position and now falling ill at the sight of the looming retribution. This is the Efficiency Unit at work.

I understand we have all been hurt seeing the state of our national polity after 17 years of democratic governance that is supposed to be for the people.

I understand that we are bitter the way our wealth has been squandered by some individual that are supposed to be our Calvary and TRUST has become an economic problem.

However true this is, we need to start from somewhere. We need to start trusting someone especially someone that has shown propensity for performance. Let us shun division and distractions some persons are promoting for personal gain or self-aggrandizement. Maybe you should know that we now unconsciously have more engagement and interest in political matters than before, even those that are naturally not inclined to matters such as this are paying attention now.

More groups, institutions, churches and mosques are diplomatically and directly becoming platforms for awareness and sensitization as to how the decisions of our leaders are affecting our physical and spiritual lives. This is one of the factors that impact the outcome of the 2015 general election and we can do it again in 2019 at the sight of fraud.

So, why exhaust our energy on discussions that produces nothing other than to engender division and bitterness. We should focus on the benefits this budget presents and position ourselves to enjoy the good of the land and not join the bandwagon of ‘Dummies’. Let us stop spinning the wheel and start driving real result intellectually.

Next week, I hope to post another thoughts on how this budget will affect you and what you should do in this 2016.

Nna You try sha. Its either you are working with the presidency or with APC media and publicity. Otherwise, I wonder how you sacrificed your time to type all these

Oguguah:
Nna You try sha. Its either you are working with the presidency or with APC media and publicity. Otherwise, I wonder how you sacrificed your time to type all these

Exactly my thought, i wonder why he carries nigerians concern for head like OBAMA

at the end of ur epistle u didnt tell us how govt will fund the budget of yamandgoat....2016 version.

adeememman:

Exactly my thought, i wonder why he carries nigerians concern for head like OBAMA

Partisanship is the very first problem this generation have followed by disability to understand matters beyond their eye balls and itching ears.

yaki84:
at the end of ur epistle u didnt tell us how govt will fund the budget of yamandgoat....2016 version.

Ooh! Sorry, it was never my intention. You can download it on the budget and planning website.

Oguguah:
Nna You try sha. Its either you are working with the presidency or with APC media and publicity. Otherwise, I wonder how you sacrificed your time to type all these

I sacrificed cuz I want a 'Dummy' to learn about state of the nation. And what have you sacrificed?

peterpierre1st:


Partisanship is the very first problem this generation have followed by disability to understand matters beyond their eye balls and itching ears.

You can be the hero of our time. As a Nigeria, i know that what is written in that thousands pages book called budget is not as important as implementing every bit of it. Am tired of propaganda, action with results is the only thing that can impress me.

adeememman:
You can be the hero of our time. As a Nigeria, i know that what is written in that thousands pages book called budget is not as important as implementing every bit of it. Am tired of propaganda, action with results is the only thing that can impress me.

First thing you said that I like. So you know it is implementation that impresses you, why the rush then? Implementation has element of time Or is the person in power a magician? Let us wait and see, we are already seeing some implementation in recovering some loots and if he did not deliver up to expectation we will use our voters card again in 2019. #MrOgaFaraBale.