AT a time of debates about wastes at the National Assembly, the Federal Government has weighed in powerfully with a N299 billion over expenditure of the 2010 budget – and that is only in the third quarter.

The deficits recorded in the preceding quarters were N249.10 billion in the first quarter and N150.39 billion in the second quarter.  While there is a provision of N1.2 trillion in the 2010 budget government could easily go over the amount by the end of the year.

Why should anyone be bothered about these figures? These are the latest indication of the wastes that our governments represent which Mallam Sansui Lamido Sanusi, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria tracks, but limits to the National Assembly.

A deficit of over N1 trillion, which is clearly in the horizon, abbreviates the ability of government to perform its roles next year. A deficit of this size will be about 33 per cent of the 2010 budget with vast consequences for the economy.

Things are worse in other directions. This deficit adds to a growing national domestic debt stock and adversely affects the purchasing power of the Naira. It enhances inflation. It means additional wages governments grudgingly agree to pay will hardly improve the living condition of workers.

Nigerians should be wondering how the government used the money. Was it for power projects where there are no visible improvement in supplies, though the Minister of State for Power Nuhu Somo Way said only those opposed to the administration fail to acknowledge that electricity supply has improved? Was the money spent in fixing the roads that are in a state? Was the money for industrial development, housing or education, for which government most recently budgeted N10 billion for the commencement of six new universities?

There are few economies that are financed without deficits, but the important thing is that the money is used for development projects that will generate economic activities so that over time the government will be able to cut down on its over expenditure.

Nigeria’s deficits are incurred through recurrent expenditure – more salaries, more cars, better accommodation for government officials, more travels, more allowances and the like. The money is not invested to generate more income or activities that will expand the economy.

If without attending to its responsibilities to the people government is spending this type of money, is it any wonder that it complains that it is broke? Why is it feasible to execute the recurrent sides of the budget, with over expenditures, while little is done on capital projects that benefit more people?

Nigerians are under uncaring governments at all levels. One of the principal indicators of how the government sees the people is in the implementation of the budget. Self-serving governments take care of their interests while overlooking-abandoning – the affairs of the people.

For them, that too is democracy, government of the people for those in power.