Government as �Father Christmas�
By Femi Aborisade
FOR the umpteenth time, the National Conscience Party (NCP) reiterates its total condemnation of the unconstitutional, wasteful and corrupt manner in which the President Olusegun Obasanjo-led PDP Federal Government has been doling out money belonging to the Nigerian State to foreign countries while imposing economic hardships on Nigerians at home under the guise of lack of resources.
At its meeting last week, the Federal Executive Council approved, without the consent of the National Assembly, the sum of $100 million to support the establishment in Nigeria of one of four international centres to propel a so-called development of science and technology, which is merely named after "Nelson Mandela Foundation for Knowledge Building and Technology" in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Earlier, the Federal Government approved $40 million to Ghana and $5 million to Sao Tome and Principe, without the consent of the National Assembly, contrary to Section 164 (2), which provides that: 'The Federation may make external grants to a foreign state or any international body in furtherance of the foreign policy objectives of Nigeria in such sum and subject to such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by the National Assembly'.
The NCP contends that the way to appropriately recognise the sacrifices of Nelson Mandela in the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa is not just by establishing centres after him and spending money without following the constitutional procedures while the masses of Nigeria are undergoing unprecedented economic agony, but by giving effect to Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution, which states unequivocally that the primary purpose of government is the welfare and security of the people.
Mandela suffered for a democratic South Africa based "on one man, one vote" so that the welfare interests of the majority may be secured. It amounts to deceit and hypocrisy for General Obasanjo to pretend to be committed to the search for knowledge and development of science and technology on an international level while deliberately starving state-owned institutions of learning of necessary funds and at the same time establishing private institutions.
Nigeria is groaning under the weight of huge foreign debt, which has risen to a disturbing level, more because of penalty for unpaid principal rather than the size of loans taken. A huge proportion of yearly budget goes into servicing of the external debt such that there is little or nothing left to cater for the welfare needs of the people. Under the guise of lack of adequate resources, social services have been commodified under a regime of withdrawal of subsidy, privatisation, liberalisation and deregulation of supply and distribution of public goods. Who does the Federal Government seek to impress or deceive by recklessly doling out loans to foreign states and international projects while the people are undergoing unprecedented level of poverty in Nigeria's history
The NCP does not object to Nigeria government's funding of humanitarian projects for poorer countries and assisting organisations resisting internal repression and injustice on an international basis, on terms that will guarantee that such supports reach the people directly. But the NCP opposes doling out money to state actors on an international scale without subjecting the terms and conditions to the control of the people through the democratic procedure of debates, public hearings, and lobby of legislators at the level of the National Assembly.
The globetroting General Obasanjo is not satisfied with the perennial wastages involved in his endless international journeys. He has now decided to increase the wastages by arbitrarily doling out Nigeria's money to his friends in government internationally and in a way that shows disdain for the National Assembly and a democratic process.
The commitment of $100 million to Mandela Centre in Nigeria, $40 million to Ghana and $5 million to Sao Tome and Principe without observing section 164 (2) of the Constitution amounts to another gross violation of the nation's constitution. It is an assault on the Constitution and the people. It is a reflection of insensitivity to pervasive poverty and the psyche of the people. The earlier General Obasanjo and the PDP are removed from power, on a constitutional basis, the better for Nigeria and the survival of the democratic process.
Aborisade is National General Secretary of the National Conscience Party (NCP).
