The House of Representatives has mandated the Committee on Appropriations to review upward the N45.32billion 2021 budget allocated to the North–East to address the fiscal and infrastructural deficit in the Boko Haram ravaged zone.
It also urges Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to consult and collaborate with States in the North East before citing Capital Projects.
The lower chamber mandated the Committee on Finance to look into the sharing structure of COVID–19 Intervention Fund and the Committee on Environment to ensure implementation of Climate Targeted Projects.
The House reached these resolutions at plenary on Tuesday, sequel to the adoption of a motion moved by Zainab Gimba (APC, Borno) and other members from the zone.
Moving the motion on behalf of her co-sponsors, Gimba noted the security challenges that have been ravaging the North–East Zone in the last ten years which have weakened the economy and other sectors in the zone.
She also noted that the activities of Boko Haram insurgents, Kidnappers, Cattle rustlers, and other criminal elements continue to pose serious threats to the socio-economic stability of the zone, precipitating poverty, high mortality, and other humanitarian crises.
The lawmaker recalled that the insurgency has claimed lives, aggravated food insecurity, damaged road infrastructure, health and education sectors, and others that require an intensive plan to restore;
Aware of the role of development planning in addressing the obvious infrastructural deficit in the North East imposed by insurgents’ destructive activities.
Gimba argued that the role of fiscal policy which is predominantly a budgetary activity refers to government adjustments on spending levels and tax rates to monitor and influence a nation’s economy- infrastructure inclusive.
Read also: Northeast Governors decry low N45.32 billion budgetary allocation to zone
She observed that: “Despite the deafening infrastructural being deficit faced in the North–East, the Federal Government proposed the sum of 45.32 billion naira in the 2021 budget estimates for capital projects in the North East, representing a mere 0.35 percent of the 13.02 trillion naira budget proposal which is grossly inadequate and would cause a grave setback to the quest of the people for decent living standard.
“The provisions for road infrastructure by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is either delayed, slow or non-existent calling for thorough rejig on road development plan in the North East and there is also no provision in the 2021 budget for Mambilla Hydro Power project that is meant to stabilise power supply in the zone.
“Alarmed at the absence of consultation with core stakeholders and beneficiaries before projects were proposed and implemented in the North–East Zone, thereby imposing a gap that undermines the impacts of such projects;
Perplexed that the sharing of 23 trillion naira post-COVID –19 Economic Stimulus for States, though appreciated, remains unfair in view of socio-economic challenges confronting the North East.
“Also perplexed that funds allocated for afforestation and other Climate targeted projects in the North East and North West Zones of Nigeria are either unimplemented, partially implemented or poorly implemented
“Cognizant of the need for thorough and deliberate planning as well as improved funding of infrastructural gaps in the Northeast due to the insurgency”
