Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has called on the Federal Government to show greater compassion and responsibility in the use of public funds, urging that excess revenue should be deployed towards addressing pressing social and economic challenges facing Nigerians.
Obi, in a post shared on his X handle on Thursday, commended the government for surpassing its revenue targets ahead of schedule but criticised what he described as a disconnect between fiscal achievements and the realities of citizens.
He lamented that despite the reported revenue boost, retired public servants, including security personnel who defended the nation with their lives, are still protesting unpaid gratuities and pensions, while small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other economic players continue to suffer from lack of funding.
“It is shameful that those who built this nation with their sweat, those who defended it with their lives, and those who have fulfilled their contractual obligations are reduced to begging for what is rightfully theirs, even after the government boasts of excess revenue,” Obi stated.
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He argued that achieving revenue targets amounts to little if it does not translate into real improvements in the welfare of citizens, especially for those in debt or struggling to sustain their businesses.
“Our nation must not continue to throw its citizens into debt and despair. It is time for our government to act responsibly and with integrity. A New Nigeria is POssible,” Obi concluded.