The Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education is urging Nigerians to reject any form of dehumanization and to demand the protection of their fundamental rights.
At a press conference held in Abuja on Thursday, the Programs Officer of CHRICED, speaking on behalf of the Executive Director, highlighted that as Nigerians grapple with challenging economic conditions, government entities at all levels seem to operate with minimal concern for the prudent management of public resources.
CHRICED maintained that it strongly denounces the extravagant, unscrupulous, and lavish spending habits exhibited by governments, even as Nigerians endure significant hardships.
The Centre explained that both the executive and legislative branches of the federal government persist in displaying extravagant preferences that are inconsistent with the current dire economic situation in Nigeria.
he National Assembly’s infamous and insensitive decision to vote the sum of N68.52 billion for the purchase of Sports Utility Vehicles (SUV). Even more self-indicting is the excuse of bad roads, which the lawmakers have given as the reason they need such expensive vehicles. The National Assembly by this position has admitted that it has not been playing its role in terms of making laws for the good governance of the country because if it was, it would have properly supervised the ministries, agencies and departments responsible for road projects. CHRICED is also aware that the executive is also deeply enmeshed in the culture of wasteful spending of public resources. Therefore, we similarly condemn the recent unjustifiable provisions in the supplementary budget, which approved N7bn to renovate President and Vice President residences in Lagos, and another N1.5bn for official vehicle for the unconstitutional office of the First Lady office. It’s unfortunate that the supplementary budget has devoted billions to fund the tastes and luxuries of top officials in the executive, while the Nigerian people are abandoned.
As the politicians engage in the destructive venture of frittering away scarce public resources, another reality that stares the country in the face is the fact that Nigeria’s foreign debt is being projected to rise further to about $51 billion. This comes as recent reports make it clear that President Tinubu has again requested approval to borrow additional $7.8 billion and €100million, as part of his 2022-2024 borrowing plan.
The dependence on borrowing, while failing to rein in the culture of waste, which pervades governance at all levels makes it apparent that the current decision-makers in Nigeria do not mean well. Not only are the Nigerian people not involved in these borrowing plans, it is also unclear how these monies will be used to make the lives of citizens better.