HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE BEGINS BUDGET WITH AGENCIES OF GOVERNMENT 02-11-23
By Sadiq Aminu Following President Tinubu’s transmission of N2, 176,791,286,033 Supplementary Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly, the House of Representatives committee on Appropriation has began its budget defense with agencies of government.
The Chairman of the committee Mr Abubakar Bichi, said the Bill has been specifically structured to improve the country’s security, food security, and critical road infrastructure sectors and to bridge the housing deficit in the country, including slum upgrades and urban renewal.
He stated that It will also support the provisional wage to workers and cash transfers to vulnerable Nigerians, as well as cater to the upcoming off-cycle elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Imo States.
Five ministers, all the service chiefs, the chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, Prof Mahmood Yakubu and the Director General of the State Services were at the defense.
The minister of Works, Mr. Dave Umahi, said the budget will go into fixing of Nigerian roads to avoid accidents, kidnappings and other road menace.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, says three point four billion naira has been earmarked for security vehicles to help curb the rising incessant menace of one chance in the nations capital.
The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi stated that Nigeria needs eighteen point six trillion naira to fix her road infrastructures in the next four years.
The minister who warned against the engagement of contactors without full budgetary appropriation for road infrastructure also advocated for the creation of a contingent fund to help meet motions on road interventions.
The Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, who decried that insecurity, climatic changes and desertification are big challenges to farmlands, stressed the need for the subsidization of fertilizers which he said are beyond the reach of poor farmers at the moment.