Political economist, Professor Pat Utomi, has criticized federal lawmakers affiliated with the Labour Party (LP), expressing his dissatisfaction with their conduct.
Utomi emphasized the need for the party to exhibit integrity and a deeper understanding of Nigeria’s failing democracy, attributing it to the shortcomings of political parties.
In a post on his X handle on Friday, Utomi stated, “We cannot call for a new way and not show an example with our actions. I have been unhappy with many Labour Party lawmakers’ conduct. The Party must show integrity and understanding of the fact that Nigeria and its democracy are both failing because of the failure of the parties.”
Utomi’s remarks come amid allegations of budget padding in the 2024 budget. Senator Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had raised concerns about the alleged padding of N3.7 trillion in the budget. However, Ningi received a three-month suspension for his allegations, which were denied by the Nigerian government and the Senate leadership.
Notably, Labour Party lawmakers in the National Assembly have remained silent on the matter, prompting Utomi to voice his discontent.
Recently, Utomi also criticized opposition political parties for their failure to protest against the worsening economic conditions in the country, highlighting that opposition parties typically lead protests in other countries.
