ONCE again, the National Assembly and the executive arm of government are at loggerheads over budget projections and overall management of revenues accruing from the sale of the country’s oil and gas.

Also, some state governors are accusing the Federal Government of insincerity in accounting for excess revenues from oil export.

This, while not new, is a worrisome development. That Nigeria is experiencing cash flow challenges arising from shortfalls in projected income, especially from crude sales, is also no longer news.

We have been inundated with tales of how attacks on the pipeline arteries taking crude oil to the export terminals are hurting the economy. There have been fluctuations in daily production ranging from 2.2 million barrels per day (mbpd) to 2.3 mbpd, against a projected production level of 2.5mbpd in the 2013 budget.

Recent reports from the Naval Intelligence Unit shows that the first half of the year witnessed incidents of hijacking of nine vessels and 55 cases of unauthorized vessel boardings.

While veracity of figures being bandied and sincerity of agencies that generate these figures are separate matters, it has become established that crude theft and pipeline vandalism have become major sources of revenue leakage.

We have heard from the Comptroller-General of Customs that waivers and concessions granted on some imported goods cost the economy N603billion. These and other unchecked acts of economic sabotage exert heavy impact on revenue receipts.

Unfortunately, it appears the authorities who should tackle the menace are treating it with kid gloves.

We are not surprised because those who have turned a blind eye to this rot in the oil sector and the economy in general are members of the ruling class, particularly, the military and political elite and their business acolytes.

They are the ones that have the political connections, economic power and security protections, to pull off this crime against the economy.

Nigeria is going through an economic warfare which threatens the survival of the state and the collective well-being of the citizens. We denounce the cant and hypocrisy associated with the 2014 budget.

We firmly believe that these present quarrels over budget projections, like the ones before this, are not about how to better the lot of Nigerians, but battles for selfish interests.

Nigerians need a more committed leadership, both in the legislative and the executive branches of government, which will plug all the leakages in our national revenue system and channel funds properly for the development of the nation. That is why we elected people to represent us in government. We are not satisfied with the way we are being represented or led when it comes to the nation’s financial management.