For today’s Numbers to Ponder, Nigeria emerged 97th position in global budget transparency survey, falling behind Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Experts told DATAPHYTE that the opacity in the budget process makes Nigeria lose out among the comity of nations. In the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, no Workers’ Day celebration for frontline health workers as 113 already contracted the COVID-19 virus.
97th Position on Budget Transparency
The Open Budget Survey (OBS) 2019 on budget transparency, ranked Nigeria 97th position. This is from a global survey of 117 countries. According to the survey, Nigeria scored 21% in Budget Transparency, 22% in Public Participation, and 55% in Budget Oversight out of 100.
In Africa, it also ranked Nigeria low scoring (21/100) among its peers, coming behind Ghana (45), Sierra Leone (39), Liberia (38), and Sao Tome and Principe (24) in budget openness and transparency. [DATAPHYTE]
23% Decline
Dalberg, a leading international development advisory group, said in a report Thursday that Nigeria could contract by as much as 23 percent this year if the Covid-19 outbreak and global economic malaise deepen. In a moderate scenario, however, where there’s “a quick and efficient COVID-19 response and an oil price war détente,” then the economy is estimated to contract by 4 percent, Dalberg said.
113 Health Workers
Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, on Thursday, disclosed that at least 113 health workers have contracted coronavirus and tested positive for the disease. Ehanire, who spoke at the daily briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, said not less than 113 of the health workers have come down with the COVID-19 infection across the country.
774,000 Jobs
The Minister of State, Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo on Tuesday, threatened to resign his appointment if the 774,000 jobs approved by President Muhammadu Buhari under the special public works programme of National Directorate of Employment (NDE) for unskilled labour in rural areas is hijacked by politicians.
82 Sections
A move by the House of Representatives to repeal the Quarantine Act and enact the Control of Infectious Diseases bill stirred controversy on Thursday. The bill, which scaled second reading before it was stood down on Tuesday, has 82 sections. Sponsored by House Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the bill seeks to strengthen the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and make it more proactive and “not just reactive and function when there is an outbreak.”
2-Week Progress
The Federal Government will evaluate outcomes after two weeks from Monday to determine if it would maintain, reverse or further ease the lockdown in Lagos and Ogun States and Abuja, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said, explaining how the subnational economies would gradually reopen.
N597.7b Budget Amendment
The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has amended the 2020 budget of the state from initial N597.7 billion to N366 billion, saying the decision is to meet up with the economic challenges due to coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world.
Check out our recent articles on Consumer Credit and our Prediction of 1,885 COVID-19 Cases By May 2020.