The level of debts amassed by President Muhammadu Buhari-led government since it took over power in 2015 has raised concerns among Nigerians.
Questions have been raised on how the loans borrowed for projects were used and how the federal government services the loans.
The lawmaker representing Kazaure/Roni/Gwiwa/Yankwashi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mohammed Gudaji Kazaure, in his reaction to the 2022 budget noted that Buhari has budgeted N5.1 trillion to service funds stolen by politicians that plunged the nation into debts.
Kazaure lamented that the fight against corruption has reduced and individuals who have stolen funds have escaped with the government paying the debts.
He further stated that the appropriate step the Buhari administration should take is to pursue the stolen funds and assets stashed abroad and recover them for Nigeria.
The All Progressives Congress chieftain stated this while speaking with newsmen in reaction to the 2022 N16.4 trillion budget presentation by Buhari on Thursday.
“Seriously, this government said, they are fighting corruption, but as a lawmaker, I never see the corruption fight because we say we are fighting corruption and we are slow and not acting. If there is strong investigation and interrogation in this country, I am sure we will not borrow money to service debts.
“Sadly, the issue of revenue which they said has gone down; the oil which has gone down in many countries of the world and if we remember in this country before oil was discovered, Nigeria was generating revenue from agriculture. Money generated through cotton and groundnut was used to discover and develop oil and later, agriculture was abandoned.
“Look at our teeming youths roaming about, jobless. Look at our forests currently inhabited by criminals which should have been cleared and used for farming by our teeming youths. If we can do this across the six geopolitical zones, I am sure the nation will have money better than oil. We could fund the budget without borrowing.
“But, most embarrassing is debt servicing which was reflected in the 2022 budget. We are servicing debt of monies stolen. Nigerian citizens never enjoyed the money which we are paying as debts.
“The money that was supposed to be invested in education, railways, health, security and other critical infrastructure would be used to service debts in 2022. The debt that is in an individual’s pockets.
“Go round the country, and see the type of buildings some privileged persons and government officials are living and they said, they’re fighting corruption. Go to Maitama in Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, you will see people living in mansions and they are government officials.
“Did they acquire mansions with their salaries and we said we are fighting corruption? If we are fighting corruption, we will not borrow money. It’s embarrassing.”
This article was originally published on Naija News