The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Edo State has described the state’s 2016 budget as a budget of misappropriation, pointing out that the outgoing governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, allocated N10.65 billion, representing 9.6 per cent of the total budget of N111.50 billion to his office as against the N35 million allocated to the office of his deputy.
The opposition party also accused the state government of neglecting the provision of water to majority of the citizens of the state by voting a paltry N100 million for the sector and agriculture N300 million while it allocated N5 billion and N400 million to security and ICT respectively.
Chairman of PDP in Edo State, Chief Dan Orbih, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City, yesterday, while analyzing the 2016 budget of the state, also accused Governor Oshiomhole of voting the sum of N3.5 billion to the construction of the Accident and Emergency Ward unit at the Benin Central Hospital, adding that the hospital ward has become a conduit pipe used to siphon the resources of the state as funds had been allocated for similar purpose in the last two budgets.
Reacting to the allegations, Special Adviser (Media) to Governor Oshiomhole, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said that the budget was only a proposal and until it becomes a law, it cannot be commented upon.
“The budget was well thought out, we did a budget that will be actionable and in the interest of Edo people. So, the budget proposal will pass through the scrutiny of the Edo State House of Assembly before it becomes a law”, he said.
