In a bold move on the floor of the green chamber, Bello El-Rufai, a member of Nigeria's House of Representatives, has raised serious concerns over what he described as the wasteful annual allocation of funds by government ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) for items such as vehicles, furniture, and utensils.
During deliberations on the 2025 budget proposal, El-Rufai questioned the rationale behind such recurring expenditures, emphasizing that these items, particularly vehicles, are non-perishable and do not require yearly replacements. He called for a detailed scrutiny of MDAs' budgets to curb unnecessary spending, especially as the government seeks to optimize revenue through tax reforms.
“Vehicles don’t expire, yet every year we see provisions for new ones in the budget. This is an area where waste can be drastically reduced,” El-Rufai stated, urging lawmakers to demand accountability and ensure more prudent use of public funds.
This is not the first time the lawmaker has brought attention to controversies surrounding vehicles in the House. Earlier in March 2024, a leaked memo revealed that the House of Representatives reprimanded El-Rufai for denying receipt of an official SUV, a claim countered by House leadership, who stated that all members, including El-Rufai, had collected their allocated vehicles. However, El-Rufai stood his ground, asserting that he had declined the operational vehicle offered to him.
These revelations have reignited discussions about wasteful expenditures in Nigeria’s legislative and executive arms, with citizens demanding greater transparency and a reduction in frivolous spending. El-Rufai's stance reflects a growing sentiment among reform-minded lawmakers advocating for fiscal discipline in the face of the country’s economic challenges.
As the debate over the 2025 budget continues, all eyes remain on the House of Representatives to see if El-Rufai’s call for change will prompt a shift in the nation's budgeting culture.
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