Professor Usman Yusuf, a former CEO of the National Health Insurance Scheme [NHIS], has pointed out that the National Assembly’s substantial 197 billion naira budget is larger than the combined budgets of 25 federal universities. He attacked governors and members of the National Assembly (NASS) for their extravagant spending when the country faces economic difficulties.
He called attention to particular spending, criticizing the 75 billion naira that was given to NASS members to buy cars—164 million of which went toward each member’s purchase. He questioned how state governors were using the extra money they were getting when the subsidies were eliminated. He claimed that the money might not be going out of Abuja but rather be used to chase dollars, which would explain the observed discrepancy between the
If you would recall that the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume also claimed that anytime there is a Federal Allocation to state governors, there is a rise in the exchange rate to the dollar. He disagreed with the notion that Binance is behind the instability of the naira.
He said in an interview with Channels TV, ”We are putting over 200 million Nigerians to difficulty, and yet the members of the National Assembly and all the governors are partying and distributing dollars. The members of the NASS budget is N197B, that is more than the 25 FG universities put together.
They were given 75 billion to buy vehicles, 164 million each. The President gave 2 billion to each of the 36 States for palliative, that’s just 72 billion. We now need to ask our governors that after this removal of subsidy, many of the 36 governors are getting up to 50% more than they were getting before. Where is that money? There is an allegation that the money does not leave Abuja. It goes directly chasing dollars and that is why the naira and the dollars have the disparity you are seeing.”
