2016 Budget: A Budget Of Change Or A Budget Of Burden?
On Tuesday President Muhammadu Buhari presented the 2016 budget before the joint session of the National Assembly. The budget he tagged "Budget of Change". While commending President Buhari for personally presenting the budget, it is important to ask the kind of change that the budget reflect.
What Is The Rationale Behind $38 Oil Benchmark?
In the budget, the government pegged oil benchmark at $38 per barrel. The problem here is that since the beginning of the second half of 2014, crude oil price has been on a free fall. In December 2014, it stood at $61 per barrel. As at today, the price of crude oil has dropped to $36 per barrel. Note that the price of crude as at june 2014 was $117 per barrel. With Iran poised to resume supply in 2016, Russia and USA entering the market, it means that the price of the product may go lower in 2016. What then is the rationale behind pegging the price of crude at $38 per barrel for 2016 budget? How will Nigeria meet up with its attendant deficit in revenue?
2. According to the 2016 Budget, Nigeria's projected revenue for 2016 is N3.86 trillion and deficit of N2.22 trillion with oil benchmark at $38 dollar per barrel. The government dedicated N1.8 trillion ie 30% set aside for capital expenditure, and projected to incur loan of N1.84 trillion.
The above means that the government plan to incur loan to finance capital project and use the leftover for recurrent expenditure. Which country in the world can survive on such arrangement? Considering that oil price is sinking deeper, it means even the projected revenue may not be met and government could be forced to take more loans to meet up the deficit. Where is the wisdom here?
More Debt?
As at June 30, 2015 the former permanent secretary of the finance ministry put the debt owed by the FG alone at N8.396 trillion and $7.74 (N1.4trillion) for local and external debt respectively. With the government proposing to borrow another N1.84trillion to finance 2016 budget, this will mean more money to finance these huge debts. Considering that we will likely borrow more due to oil decline, I don't think there is any wisdom in this. Are we going back to pre-1999?
Will Government Ever Learn?
When the last administration presented the 2015 budget, they pegged crude oil price at $65 per barrel. As at time of presenting the budget, the crude oil price stood at $61 per barrel. The effect was what we witnessed in 2015 where the government had to resort to borrowing because they couldn't meet revenue expectation. President Buhari is now following the same route. Pegging crude oil price at $38 per barrel when the price at present is lower. That means there will be increased borrowing should the crude oil price fail to rise at the benchmark.
I believe Nigeria should learn from Greece and not go down same lane. Already, we have serious problem of depleting customers for our major export(oil) and also we face challenge of competing with more entrants(USA, Russia and Iran) in the market. Government budget should reflect on the reality and not hinged on political correctness. Honestly, I see no positive change in this budget, all I see is burden on Nigerians.
May God Bless Nigeria
What Is The Rationale Behind $38 Oil Benchmark?
In the budget, the government pegged oil benchmark at $38 per barrel. The problem here is that since the beginning of the second half of 2014, crude oil price has been on a free fall. In December 2014, it stood at $61 per barrel. As at today, the price of crude oil has dropped to $36 per barrel. Note that the price of crude as at june 2014 was $117 per barrel. With Iran poised to resume supply in 2016, Russia and USA entering the market, it means that the price of the product may go lower in 2016. What then is the rationale behind pegging the price of crude at $38 per barrel for 2016 budget? How will Nigeria meet up with its attendant deficit in revenue?
2. According to the 2016 Budget, Nigeria's projected revenue for 2016 is N3.86 trillion and deficit of N2.22 trillion with oil benchmark at $38 dollar per barrel. The government dedicated N1.8 trillion ie 30% set aside for capital expenditure, and projected to incur loan of N1.84 trillion.
The above means that the government plan to incur loan to finance capital project and use the leftover for recurrent expenditure. Which country in the world can survive on such arrangement? Considering that oil price is sinking deeper, it means even the projected revenue may not be met and government could be forced to take more loans to meet up the deficit. Where is the wisdom here?
More Debt?
As at June 30, 2015 the former permanent secretary of the finance ministry put the debt owed by the FG alone at N8.396 trillion and $7.74 (N1.4trillion) for local and external debt respectively. With the government proposing to borrow another N1.84trillion to finance 2016 budget, this will mean more money to finance these huge debts. Considering that we will likely borrow more due to oil decline, I don't think there is any wisdom in this. Are we going back to pre-1999?
Will Government Ever Learn?
When the last administration presented the 2015 budget, they pegged crude oil price at $65 per barrel. As at time of presenting the budget, the crude oil price stood at $61 per barrel. The effect was what we witnessed in 2015 where the government had to resort to borrowing because they couldn't meet revenue expectation. President Buhari is now following the same route. Pegging crude oil price at $38 per barrel when the price at present is lower. That means there will be increased borrowing should the crude oil price fail to rise at the benchmark.
I believe Nigeria should learn from Greece and not go down same lane. Already, we have serious problem of depleting customers for our major export(oil) and also we face challenge of competing with more entrants(USA, Russia and Iran) in the market. Government budget should reflect on the reality and not hinged on political correctness. Honestly, I see no positive change in this budget, all I see is burden on Nigerians.
May God Bless Nigeria
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