Press Release: BUDGET OF HOPE

President Umaru Musa Yar'adua recently presented a budget of N2.45 tr. The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) commends the vision and resourcefulness of the president as apparent in the allocation of the highest percentage to security. This is the type of attention necessary for ordinary Nigerians to walk or drive freely on the streets and for the average Nigerian family to sleep with both eyes closed at night. It is clear by now that the police is poorly equipped and they cannot therefore face the sophisticated firepower of hoodlums. The rate at which the police were losing their men to robbers on a daily basis has also been alarming. The allocation of the sum of N444.60b which represents 20% of the budgetary allocation is therefore a welcome development.

MURIC equally gives kudos to Yaradu'a for paying serious attention to the energy crisis facing the country by placing it in the third place. We however wish to call the president's attention to the case of education. Although the education sector got the largest share in recent time, N22b higher than the amount allocated to it in the last budget. This 13% of the total budgetary allocation still falls far short of the requirements of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) which is 26%.

The neglect of the education sector over the years has crippled Nigeria's intellectual prowess and turned our educational institutions into backyard playgrounds for unwanted children. It is an open secret that only children of the poor attend Nigerian schools while the rich and powerful send their children abroad for studies. To make the education sector attractive, the Federal Government must take a bold step to meet global standards.

MURIC lauds the Federal Government's successful drastic reduction of Nigeria's debt profile from $32b in 2005 to $3b in 2007, the nation's exit from the Paris Club debt as well as its extrication from the London Club debt. We warn that never again must any regime sink this country in debt. MURIC in all modesty recognises the efforts of ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo in this regard. We salute Obasanjo for his disciplinary measures and his determination to free Nigeria from the shackles of foreign debt.

Finally, we call for proper implementation of the Yaradu'a budget which promises to be a budget of hope in order to improve standard of living in the country, provide job for millions of qualified youth and improve infrastructural facilities.

Dr. Is-haq Akintola
DIRECTOR