2017 BUDGET: EXPERTS FAULT DEBT SERVICE, NASS ALLOCATIONS

Eze Onyekpere

The 2017  Appropriation Budget recently passed by the National Assembly has come under the scrutiny of experts and financial analysts.


One of the groups that has faulted the 2017 Appropriation Budget is the Centre for Social Justice, CSJ.

One of the items in the Budget that had attracted criticisms is the huge amount allocated for debt service in the 2017 budget proposal and the increase in the National Assembly’s allocation by N10bn.

Lead Director, CSJ, Mr. Eze Onyekpere, stated in a preliminary review of the budget that, "dedicating 24.73 per cent of the overall Budget proposal to debt service is an indication that Nigeria's debt profile is becoming unsustainable".

With such huge allocations, concerned Stakeholders are beginning to raise questions on the proper implementation of the Budget, which if not judiciously applied, would only end up improving the lives of certain individuals in government at the detriment of the people and nation.