Defending the Facts: House Committee Chairman Addresses Budget Box Controversy*

I write in response to the mischievous insinuations that, Mr. President laid empty boxes to the National Assembly on the day he presented the appropriation bill 2023. What people don’t know is that Mr. President had earlier submitted a flash drive as a soft copy of the 2023 Budget. Which is now being printed out in hard copies. And as usual brought one single hard copy of the budget to the floor.

Be that as it may, Senators and Hon. members were satisfied and were conveniently guided by the verbal presentation and the way Mr. President digested the budget, and gave a specific analysis of the funds allocated to the various sectors of the economy.

I, therefore, want to say that any media or mischievous reports insinuating that Mr. President laid empty boxes were NOT TRUE and unfounded. Such reports are only being perpetrated by mischief makers and opposition members who would always criticize the government with or without reasonable cause.

I further wish to urge Nigerians to disregard such insinuations, and condemn the perpetrators as they are enemies of Nigeria’s Progress.

As from next week, the House Committee on Petroleum Upstream will start budget defense on estimates of agencies under my committee’s supervision.