THE draft 2012 budget presented to the Osun State House of Assembly by the Ogbeni Governor is the first to be presented conceptualized and formulated by the Action Congress of Nigeria government in Osun State. Fiscal discipline and performance planning represents a central thrust in the conceptualization of the Budget.

IN the words of Othman Dan Fodio, conscience is an open wound, only truth can heal it. The take away from this axiom is that evil strives in societies where people lack the courage to tell and defend the truth. What is playing out with the above captioned article concerning the unfortunate attack on the Federal Government’s recent efforts at ensuring its roads in Edo State are rehabilitated is reminiscent of a jig saw between truth and falsehood.

IN the first half of this article, which appeared in a number of national dailies just before the just suspended industrial action over oil subsidy removal, I had argued against hitting the barricades and advocated a Government-Labour dialogue as an option for amicable solution.

DR. Goodluck Jonathan, in exercise of his powers as President of Nigeria, decided to remove subsidy on petroleum products. A clear evidence of this act was the non-provision for subsidy in the 2012 budget estimates he sent to the National Assembly.

NOTWITHSTANDING President Goodluck Jonathan’s pledge to consult widely in respect of the earlier proposed removal of subsidy on petroleum products, the president and his clique went on the new year day to impose a heavy and unsustainable price on the product, by announcing the withdrawal of the phanton subsidy.