Abuja — Northern Union (NU), has commended President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua for his effort to truly transform the country.

NU described the 2008 budget proposal as realistic and people-oriented and observed that the careful attention to details of the expected income for the period and sectoral expenditures was a manifestation of the president's commitment to transparency and accountability.

Reacting to the budget, the chairman of the national management committee of the union, Chief Patrick Adaba, said that the allocations to security and development of Niger Delta region, education, agriculture the power sector as well as water resources and rural development, demonstrated government's understanding and readiness to address the problems of the country.

"Going by the experience of the last eight years, I will say that we are seeing the first sincere and realistic attempt to address the dominant problems of the country, which include social insecurity, economic stagnation, poverty and unemployment.

"The budget inspires hope of the good days ahead and if diligently executed, the 2008 budget will change the fortunes of Nigeria and Nigerians. The benchmark and exchange rate projections are realistic while the new emphasis on the non-oil sector holds a lot of promises for the economy of the country", Chief Adaba stated.

He called on the National Assembly to expedite action on the budget to ensure that it was ready for implementation within the first quarter of the new fiscal year. "Nigerians are desperate for the dividends of democracy which have eluded them since 1999. The 2008 budget offers an opportunity to fulfil the expectations of the Nigerian electorate and the National Assembly has an obligation to give the budget speedy passage", he added.

Chief Adaba urged governors of the 19 northern states to follow the footsteps of the federal government and develop budgets that would address the basic needs of the people of their states.

"The era of white elephant projects is over and budgets, especially in the north should target the problems of poverty, unemployment, infrastructures and social amenities as well as quality education and healthcare services", he pointed out.