Since Yar'adua came to power, his policy of refund of unspent budget money back to government coffers has been yielding positive results. I remember the ministry of health episode that led to the resignation of the minister and others. I also recall how the Almighty Iyabo Obasanjo sweated trying to riggle herself from bribe allegation. This afternoon, I heard from the Radio Nigeria 4PM news that the House of Reps returned about #2.1 billion unspent budget allocation for 2008 to the Government coffers. I am impressed that this is happening in Nigeria. It is a sign of good things to come. Since the House of Rep has made this refund, I know other beneficiaries would follow suite because the House can now investigate with clear conscience any organisation/parastatal that failed to refund unspent budget allocation. I just pray that the returned monies are properly utilised. Kudos to Yar'adua administration for this policy. I know we are not yet there but it is a step in the right direction. At least this will help toinculcate the habit of accountability in governance and reduce corruption to some level. House, what are your takes on this?

If you are a head of a household and you have millions of dollars in the bank, yet, your family is living in abject poverty,
would you consider yourself an accomplished family head ?

What is the point of having money without putting it to good any use ? Make we hear word abeg.

maxell:


If you are a head of a household and you have millions of dollars in the bank, yet, your family is living in abject poverty,
would you consider yourself an accomplished family head ?

What is the point of having money without putting it to good any use ? Make we hear word abeg.

Thank you jare. In fact the thread should read "Refund Of Unspent Budget Money: An extra minus For Yar'adua Administration".

jamace:

Since Yar'adua came to power, his policy of refund of unspent budget money back to government coffers has been yielding positive results. I remember the ministry of health episode that led to the resignation of the minister and others. I also recall how the Almighty Iyabo Obasanjo sweated trying to riggle herself from bribe allegation. This afternoon, I heard from the Radio Nigeria 4PM news that the House of Reps returned about #2.1 billion unspent budget allocation for 2008 to the Government coffers. I am impressed that this is happening in Nigeria. It is a sign of good things to come. Since the House of Rep has made this refund, I know other beneficiaries would follow suite because the House can now investigate with clear conscience any organisation/parastatal that failed to refund unspent budget allocation. I just pray that the returned monies are properly utilised. Kudos to Yar'adua administration for this policy. I know we are not yet there but it is a step in the right direction. At least this will help toinculcate the habit of accountability in governance and reduce corruption to some level. House, what are your takes on this?

can the house of thieves members also supply us with the total amount of the allocation and how every penny they claim to have spent was spent, with backup to support each claim. we'll dissect and digest the information ourselves and decide if they are worth commending.

jamace:

Since Yar'adua came to power, his policy of refund of unspent budget money back to government coffers has been yielding positive results. I remember the ministry of health episode that led to the resignation of the minister and others. I also recall how the Almighty Iyabo Obasanjo sweated trying to riggle herself from bribe allegation. This afternoon, I heard from the Radio Nigeria 4PM news that the House of Reps returned about #2.1 billion unspent budget allocation for 2008 to the Government coffers. I am impressed that this is happening in Nigeria.

@Poster, Have you taken a look at the 2008 budget? The Budget amount was almost 3 Trillion Naira ( that is about 3 * 1000 Billion Naira) . Now, if you have not taken a look at the 2008 budget for yourself, may I suggest that you do? When you do, I would like you to explain to me why, with all the projects that were never really touched; only Naira 2.1 billion was unspent.

Kobojunkie:

@Poster, Have you taken a look at the 2008 budget? The Budget amount was over 200 Trillion Naira. Now, if you have not taken a look at the 2008 budget for yourself, may I suggest that you do? When you do, I would like you to explain to me why, with all the projects that were never really touched; only Naira 2.1 billion was unspent.

Which version as there seem to be three versions in circulation if I'm right.

isnt that like 1% returned, how many % was used towards the projects they were assigned for? my math teacher just told me its not 99%

B.O.S.S.:

Which version as there seem to be three versions in circulation if I'm right.

There are three in circulation my brother. you are right

I made a mistake there posting that it was about 300 trillion, scratch the extra zeros. The money is closer to 3 trillion, for arguments sake lets say it was about 2.5 trillion, which is about 2500 Billion naira. We get 2.1 billion as refund. That is seriously less than 1% still . ROFLMAO!!

And Please, do not come in claiming the "600 billion" that was supposedly, and I mean supposedly spent on HELPING the economy came from the 2008 budget and explains the discrepancy. Roflmao!!!

Well, thanks for your comments. What I am trying to say is that unspent money is returned now unlike previously where work was not done and unused money was not returned. I think this " return unused money policy" will make them to work with the money. Meanwhile, It is my desire that money budgeted be utilized accordingly.

jamace:

Well, thanks for your comments. What I am trying to say is that unspent money is returned now unlike previously where work was not done and unused money was not returned. I think this " return unused money policy" will make them to work with the money. Meanwhile, It is my desire that money budgeted be utilized accordingly.

Let me try another angle here. If I steal or misuse $2500 of your money, but give you back $2.10 of your own money as refund, would you praise me? Or is this only applicable when Nigerian government is involved?

I find it interesting how that policy has now been used to return a miniscule portion of the whole lump to us. My Question to you here is are you satisfied that the Naira 2.1 Billion is the actual UNUSED amount or you are just rejoicing that money was returned, at least?

Before Yar'adua's administration, did you even hear of unspent budgetted money not to talk of refunding it?

They refund 2.1 billion but do you know how much they must have stolen before they returned the 2.1? yeye people, dem go run down plus their yeye president.

I agree with the poster,this is a plus for the slow govt of yar adua,

jamace:

Before Yar'adua's administration, did you even hear of unspent budgetted money not to talk of refunding it?

before yar adua came we never knew there was something called unspent funds,
previously these monies were diverted and share by the corrupt "luck" few,now at least the money is recovered and appropriated,
even though i'm not a fan of yar adua,i will commend him on this.

children - daddy , its raining - the roof is leaking, the generator has packed up again, the borehole pump is bad . . .

daddy - abeg don't disturb me - i still have plenty of unspent money in my savings account - i am doing well

@poster
you really should do some reading and the underlying reasons for the return of the unspent funds,i promise you that rather than applauding them,you will be pouring vitriol on the technocrats and the executives.

the budget itself is not the problem but implementation like we all know,however because the capital expenditure is really difficult for the technocrats,ministers e.t.c to steal from because of the reps over sight functions,what they now do is spend all the recurrent expenditure which is easier to steal,put all these unspent billions in nigerian banks negotiating interests for them and simply take the interests and return the bulk money to government,as you can fathom from this,they have been sitting on their asses all year doing nothing and getting paid for it,rather than the executives bringing them to book,they pat them on the head for a job well done like you are doing now,the house of reps are powerless to do anything about it while nigerians are suffering, so in this instance the ministers especially for works and the ministry officials are the real devils,

lucabrasi:

@poster
you really should do some reading and the underlying reasons for the return of the unspent funds,i promise you that rather than applauding them,you will be pouring vitriol on the technocrats and the executives.

the budget itself is not the problem but implementation like we all know,however because the capital expenditure is really difficult for the technocrats,ministers e.t.c to steal from because of the reps over sight functions,what they now do is spend all the recurrent expenditure which is easier to steal,put all these unspent billions in nigerian banks negotiating interests for them and simply take the interests and return the bulk money to government,as you can fathom from this,they have been sitting on their asses all year doing nothing and getting paid for it,rather than the executives bringing them to book,they pat them on the head for a job well done like you are doing now,the house of reps are powerless to do anything about it while nigerians are suffering, so in this instance the ministers especially for works and the ministry officials are the real devils,

in as much as i agree with u,i will like to point out that previously,the unspent funds from the unimplemented budget goes into private pockets,
the fact that the unspent funds are remitted back to the treasury should be considered a plus,we hav to start 4rm smwhere,
some day we might not hav to hear about unspent funds again if budget are fully implemented.

Muza:

in as much as i agree with u,i will like to point out that previously,the unspent funds from the unimplemented budget goes into private pockets,
the fact that the unspent funds are remitted back to the treasury should be considered a plus,we hav to start 4rm smwhere,
some day we might not hav to hear about unspent funds again if budget are fully implemented.

the fact that it goes into private pockets prior to yar adua doesnt mean they deserve applause though does it?
its like applauding them for shifting from looting one side to another,i dont think that "some dqay" will ever come to pass if the perpetuators are not brought to book and they keep on been patted oon the head by executives and the public

You may accuse Yar'adua of inactiveness, inexperience, slowness, clueless,etc but one thing you cannot accuse him of is corruption and self-enrichment. The 'spartan' President is one that doesn't believe in accumulation and excessive materialism.

Jarus:

You may accuse Yar'adua of inactiveness, inexperience, slowness, clueless,etc but one thing you cannot accuse him of is corruption and self-enrichment. The 'spartan' President is one that doesn't believe in accumulation and excessive materialism.

wat of his wife?

Muza:

wat of his wife?

That actually came to my while making that statement.
Well, much has been said about the wife, especially how influential and overbearing she can be. But being overbearing does not automatically mean being corrupt. I can't conclude on the wife.

children - daddy , its raining - the roof is leaking, the generator has packed up again, the borehole pump is bad . . .

daddy - abeg don't disturb me - i still have plenty of unspent money in my savings account - i am doing well

the fact that it goes into private pockets prior to yar adua doesnt mean they deserve applause though does it?
its like applauding them for shifting from looting one side to another,i dont think that "some dqay" will ever come to pass if the perpetuators are not brought to book and they keep on been patted oon the head by executives and the public

So, what do they deserve? KOBOKO?

Economic times should dictate a change in perception and behavour

Even though I think the headline has some merits. The story of unspent funds may actually be more uninteresting and may mean less development and rosy economic times for Nigerians in the future. Yes, civil servants and ministers are known for moving out funds towards the end of the year but at the same time there are legitimate contractors who have finished assignments with the government and yet not paid. The ministry of works one of the most corrupt agencies I know of personally owes many legitimate contractors money yet still returned over 50% of its capital expenditures. The story in some ministries like works also borders corruption. They owe many firms money because they did not approve their 10% kickback so they initiate bureaucratic guidelines to stifle payment while the allies of the minister and directors get their money on time. Most of the people who are owned returned money are more likely people who are not connected to powerful people. Secondly, prior to 2007 when Yar'Adua was nominated by PDP, he was known to have close to 7 billion in reserve funds for Katsina State prior to debt he inherited but he was also considered austere and initiated no meaningful development in the state only one major project, I think related to agric or some cash crop was initiated for the development of the state's economic potential. Not completing capital projects(contractors won't work until they are paid their installments) means less development in infrastructure for the country. I think it is a negative, eliminate graft(paddy paddy) contractors and implement the budget on economically reasonable ways to develop the country. Now that the global economic woes may be spreading, it is usually the time government action is needed for stabilizing the economy.

jamace:

Before Yar'adua's administration, did you even hear of unspent budgetted money not to talk of refunding it?

Before Yar Adua's administration, I did not know it was possible to take a job, get paid for the job and sit down and do nothing for years on the job, either. I am sorry, I would rather we have a government that actually tried it's hands on some projects, and say failed at it than a government that took 2500 billion of my money but gave me change of 2 billion at the end, with not a single thing accomplished  but more deterioration and more losses to offer me for hope the next year.

some nigerians can like mediocrity sha

We know that many things have gone wrong. But when you see a little good thing, praise it so that more good ones can come.

jamace:

We know that many things have gone wrong. But when you see a little good thing, praise it so that more good ones can come.

you r totally right and i agree,but not in this instance, a rudimentary knowledge of economics and actually going through the budget will open your eyes to this fact,dont take things that are reported on n.t.a hook line and sinker

concrete:

some nigerians can like mediocrity sha

Thanks a bunch. This message speaks to so many people that they don't even realise.

concrete:

some nigerians can like mediocrity sha

Right on the money!!

a new man in the house holla all

welcome on board newbie