Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has called for the slashing of Nigeria’s budget, including allocation for the travels and feeding of President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in view of the effect of the coronavirus pandemic.
Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election, said despite the crash in the price of oil, and the inability of Nigeria to expand its revenue base through the no- oil sector, the Federal government has only slashed the budget by 0.6%, from ₦10.594 trillion to ₦ 10.523 trillion.
In a statement issued by his media office, Atiku said the money budgeted for the renovation of the National Assembly should be channelled towards pressing national needs.
“The billions budgeted for the travels and feeding of the President and Vice President has to be reduced. The budget for purchasing luxury cars for the President, his vice, and other political office holders must be jettisoned. Leave the salaries of civil servants alone, but reduce the salaries of political appointees. Sell 8 or 9 of the jets in the Presidential Air Fleet,” he said.