BY Dyepkazah Shibayan
Aisha Yesufu, activist and founder of Citizens Hub, says governments must reduce their expenditures to the barest minimum to reflect economic realities.
Yesufu said this in reaction to reports that the Labour Party (LP)-led Abia state government spent “N927 million on refreshment/meals, settlement of honorarium, allowances and welfare packages” in the third quarter of the year.
The report on the Abia state government website said its 2023 budget prioritises “the people’s wellbeing”.
“The 2023 budget is designed to focus on the successful completion of on-going programmes and projects that have direct bearing on the people’s wellbeing,” it reads in part.
“This will enable the government to consolidate the gains of the past years in the provision of social amenities for the people.
“We also see this as an opportunity to pursue recovery by redirecting resources to improve on the production chain in the state and add value to products from our people.
“It is an opportunity to complement established suppliers and producers with cost-effective, quality products from our people.”
In a post on X on Tuesday, Yesufu, a member of the LP presidential campaign council in the last polls, said it should not be business as usual for all politicians.
“Business as usual can never be the way to go. It must be business unusual. Expenditure must be reduced to the barest minimum,” the activist posted.
“Almost a billion on food and welfare in 3 months? @alexottiofr get organizations like @TrackaNG to help keep you on your toes and monitor your spending and what to cut down on.”
Meanwhile, the Abia government said only N223 million was spent on refreshment/meals, settlement of honorarium, allowances and welfare packages in the third quarter of the year.
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