Thread by @ogundamisi

#Thread 👇
AS we are all focused and arguing over the choice between @atiku and @MBuhari and following needless cat and mouse game over budget for #NigeriaDecides2019 NASS finally had the brainwave to divert N242.24bn (via virement) from existing budgets to fund 2019 elections.

Guess what budgets our dear overpaid #NASS led by @bukolasaraki choose to cut? Agriculture N11bn. HEALTH N8.05bn. EDUCATION N10.2bn. Works (roads included), Power and Housing N25.5bn. Science & Tech - N7.46bn. Water Resources - N12.95bn and more. Budget trackers went DEAF n BLIND

.@bukolasaraki and his cabal in #NASS claims these cuts were agreed on with the Presidency. This is a clever by half claim for those who forget how the @inecnigeria budget became a convenient weapon and was endlessly delayed by NASS. Weponised delay. saharareporters.com/2018/08/18/n18…

For the first time in Niger Civil society in frustration was forced to hold a physical PROTEST for #NASS to pass @inecnigeria budget punchng.com/groups-give-na… With that as context the cuts seem like a predetermined destination. #NASS had its own agenda cut capital projects.

The most interesting cut by #NASS is to this executives Social Investment Program. A massive 121 billion naira. SIPs consist of the School Feeding programs for primary school children, N-Power and others. HALF of the entire sum.

Of course #NASS budget remains “unslashed”

#NASS insisted on the weak and vulnerable who benefit from Social Investment Program should be sacrificed, but not a dime of #A massive 121 billion naira. SIPs consist of the School Feeding programs for primary school children, N-Power and others. HALF of the entire sum.

Interestingly in media reports the massive slashing of funds for @npower_ng and school feeding and other social investment programs is down played. thecable.ng/senate-cuts-n3…

.@atiku referred to @npower_ng as the product of poverty mentality in his recent interview with Thisday. In slashing the budget perhaps @bukolasaraki his campaign manager moves to create what team Dubai think will be the perfect condition for their propaganda. They cared less.

We won’t forget in a hurry the lies about @MBuhari not wanting the card reader which @bukolasaraki and his cabals removed themselves from the electoral act. I repeat nothing was cut from #NASS budget. Instead they tried to INCREASE their allowance N15 million a month.

The @MBuhari does not want card reader LIES spread like wild fire, even our dear former redcard movement leader now Presidential Candidate fell for the lies, majority of our 'ever diligent' NGO's fell for it, when the truth came out, everyone moved on, the damage was already done

Young Nigerians when @npower_ng does not pay or enrol more of you, when the primary kid’s meals end remember who to hold. People comfortable with slashing budgets for education, health or social investment programs before elections have nothing to offer. Our sad reality.

As we begin to see results of work on infrastructure the end game is to end it by slashing budget 4 works. Crippling school meals, @npower_ng . Using NASS power to “weaponize” budget & punish people by blocking funds to achieve their ends. A glimpse of the future we must avoid.

Some of us have recently had reason to disagree with one of Nigeria's formost watchdog @BudgITng but let it be on record that @BudgITng was one too few out of the many budget watchers who raised alarm on the recklessness of #NASS and condemned it. Others went on vacation.