Skip to main content

Ondo APC Comes Out Against Mimiko's 2016 Budget Estimate, Says 'It's A Big Fraud And Deceit'

February 11, 2016

Last week, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State came out against the decision of the State government, led by embattled Governor Olusegun Mimiko, to spend the whopping sum of N15. 8 Billion to service debt out of the 2016 Budget.

Last week, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State came out against the decision of the State government, led by embattled Governor Olusegun Mimiko, to spend the whopping sum of N15. 8 Billion to service debt out of the 2016 Budget.

Image

The Director of Media and Publicity of the APC, Steve Otaloro, issued a statement to journalists on Wednesday in which he outlined the reasons for his Party’s opposition to the 2016 Budget.

The statement argued that it was the height of irresponsibility on the part of Governor to fail to focus solely on servicing the debt, when it was critical that the capital projects in Ondo State be funded.

"A situation where the government will be spending N15.850 billion, which represents 31.08% of this year's budget, to service debt repayment shows how that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government has mortgaged the future of Ondo State.  

“Moreover, the debt is a direct result of the unwarranted several loans received by the PDP led government.

The statement acknowledged that the proposed budget did allocate N50.9 billion to capital projects.  However, these projects, which included the Dome, Ondo township roads, and the Fiwasaye Oba-ile Airport road have already received funds and none of the projects have seen any appreciable progress.

Therefore, according to the APC, this allocation is suspicious and does not appear to be intended to truly support the vital capital projects the State needs.

Mr. Otaloro also noted that the PDP-led State government has denied the people value for more than one trillion Naira which the State has earned since 2009 with a budget performance rate of about 15% in all.

Mr. Otaloro advised the governor to learn from the Federal Government's budget presentation which, according to him, was dedicated to improving the standard of living for the poor.