A concerning revelation has surfaced as former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, cast doubts on the viability of President Bola Tinubu’s proposed 2024 budget, citing a colossal N17 trillion deficit which he deems unsustainable.
Tinubu had recently tabled a N27.5 trillion budget for the 2024 fiscal year before the National Assembly, but Suswam, speaking in Abuja to a group of emerging political leaders, expressed skepticism about the budget’s implementability owing to what he perceives as a glaring deficit resulting from inadequate leadership.
As he addressed 25 fellows of the Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship, an initiative of The Bridge Foundation aimed at grooming future political leaders, Suswam emphasized the deteriorating quality of representation in Nigeria’s leadership landscape. He avowed, “Leadership needs some intellectual content. If you don’t have it, there is nothing that you can do about it.”
His critical analysis of the budget delved into the breakdown of the deficit, outlining concerns over N9 trillion deficit, N8 trillion debt service, and N2.7 trillion tax expenditure. This led him to assert that the entire N27 trillion budget might be unattainable, attributing this to what he perceives as a deficiency in intellectual capacity among leaders.
Liyel Imoke, former Cross River State governor and founder of The Bridge Foundation’s Emerging Political Leaders Fellowship, echoed Suswam’s sentiments, stressing the need to mentor and equip Nigerian youths for effective participation in governance. Explaining the rationale behind the fellowship, Imoke emphasized the necessity to adequately prepare and empower young individuals for meaningful political engagement.
Further underscoring the imperative of addressing Nigeria’s challenges, former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, called for concerted efforts among political leaders. Ihedioha implored the emerging leaders to conscientiously study their environment before venturing into electoral contests, emphasizing that success in Nigerian politics demands unwavering dedication and hard work.
As the discourse on the 2024 budget gains traction, Suswam’s reservations and the exhortations from political veterans serve as a poignant reminder of the intricate nexus between leadership capacity and fiscal realities, prompting a sober reflection on the nation’s political and economic trajectory.
