DESPITE the commotion that greeted the 2016 budget, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, says the budget is unprecedented in the country’s history.
He said the budget was historic because for the first time in recent history, 30 per cent of the budget was dedicated to capital expenditure.
The lawmaker, who said this in a series of tweets on his official Twitter handle on Wednesday, however, called for an increment of the capital expenditure in next year’s budget to 40 per cent.
According to him, the provisions of the 2016 budget would enhance even development in the country.
He said, “I mentioned earlier that this budget is historic because it has a social intervention component. This is because this is the first time that 30 per cent of our budget will be dedicated to capital expenditure in recent history.
“2016 budget is the first all-inclusive budget that seeks to carry all Nigerians along; the rich, the not-so-poor, the not-so-rich and others. It is my hope and that of the House of Representatives that the 2017 capital expenditure will be increased to 40 per cent.
“The 2016 budget is epic not just because of its mega size of N6tn but for the reason that it touches on the wellbeing of the people.”