By Bassey Asuquo
The Democratic Front (TDF) has said it was surprised at the display of ignorance by the leaders of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC)on public budgeting and accounting procedures.
This according to it is despite the acclaimed experience of many of its leaders in public administration.
In a statement signed by its Chairman Mallam Danjuma Muhammad and Secretary, Chief Wale Adedayo, the group noted that it was surprised by the party’s description of the rollover of 70% of the 2025 capital budget, as “fiscal confusion”.
It said: “We note that the rollover of 70% of the 2025 capital budget by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into the 2026 budget was clearly understood and well commended by both economic experts and MDAs of government, as a significant move that will eliminate abandoned projects in the country, and also promote continuity in federal government spending.
“It is even more disappointing that the ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi not appreciate the damage which abandoned projects have done to infrastructural and economic development efforts in the country, despite being a former cabinet member.
“We, on our part, commend the Tinubu administration for giving priority to the completion of all abandoned projects in the country, because of how it has encouraged corruption and other sharp practices that culminated in waste of public expenditure under successive governments.
“The ADC should be truthful to Nigerians by acknowledging that other factors like fluctuations in revenue generation, shortfall in crude oil production output, and the challenges of meeting the benchmark for global crude oil prices (which are not within the grip of the government), could necessitate a rollover in an annual capital budget.
“At this point, the leaders of opposition in Nigeria should realise that not everything is politics. Jumping into the public space with criticisms, without a proper understanding of the issues at stake, like they often do, portrays their political camps in a bad light, and confirms their desperation to control power, without adequate knowledge of governance.
“Therefore, we disagree with the ADC National Publicity Secretary that the implementation of the national budget under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a cause for concern. Rather, it is our opinion that the President acted in good faith.
“His decision to rollover 70% of the 2025 capital expenditure will allow for the completion of ongoing projects, and also instil fiscal discipline in budgetary planning and implementation by government.”
It added that the ADC should be more concerned with how to redeem its image in a few months for the 2027 general elections.
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