Buhari lists important projects in the 2018 budget from which cuts were made by National Assembly
President Muhammmadu Buhari on Wednesday, June 20, signed the 2018 budget but lamented that lawmakers made cuts amounting to N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects he submitted for consideration.
The president added that the lawmakers also introduced 6,403 projects of their own amounting to N578 billion.
Recall that the National Assembly had on May 16 passed the 2018 Appropriation Bill, increasing the proposal of N8.612 trillion presented by President Buhari last December to N9.120 trillion.
While signing the budget at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Buhari noted that he was concerned about some of the changes that the National Assembly had made to the budget proposals he presented.
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Expressing concerns over some changes introduced into the 2018 budget by the National Assembly, President Buhari listed the examples of projects from which cuts were made.
Legit.ng highlights the projects listed by the president below:
1. Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project
The provisions for some nationally/regionally strategic infrastructure projects such as Counter-part funding for the Mambilla Power Plant, Second Niger Bridge/ancillary roads, the East-West Road, Bonny-Bodo Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and Itakpe-Ajaokuta Rail Project were cut by an aggregate of 11.5 billion Naira.
2. FCT infrastructure projects, major arterial roads and the mass transit rail project
Similarly, provisions for some ongoing critical infrastructure projects in the FCT, Abuja especially major arterial roads and the mass transit rail project, were cut by a total of N7.5 billion.
3. Additional security measures for the United Nations building
The provision for Rehabilitation and Additional Security Measures for the United Nations Building by the FCT, Abuja was cut by 3.9 billion Naira from 4 billion Naira to 100 million Naira; this will make it impossible for the Federal Government of Nigeria to fulfill its commitment to the United Nations on this project.
4.Strategic interventions in the health sector
The provisions for various Strategic Interventions in the health sector such as the upgrade of some tertiary health institutions, transport and storage of vaccines through the cold chain supply system, provision of anti-retroviral drugs for persons on treatment, establishment of chemotherapy centres and procurement of dialysis consumables were cut by an aggregate amount of N7.45 billion.
5. Security infrastructure in the 104 Unity Schools across the country
The provision for security infrastructure in the 104 Unity Schools across the country were cut by N3 billion at a time when securing our students against acts of terrorism ought to be a major concern of government.
6. National Housing Programme
The provision for the federal government’s National Housing Programme was cut by N8.7 billion.
7. Provisions for Pension Redemption Fund and Public Service Wage Adjustment
At a time when we are working with Labour to address compensation-related issues, a total of N5 billion was cut from the provisions for Pension Redemption Fund and Public Service Wage Adjustment.
8. Provisions for Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and Special Economic Zones/Industrial Parks
The provisions for Export Expansion Grant (EEG) and Special Economic Zones/Industrial Parks, which are key industrialization initiatives of this Administration, were cut by a total of N14.5 billion.
9. Construction of the Terminal Building at Enugu Airport
The provision for Construction of the Terminal Building at Enugu Airport was cut from N2 billion to N500 million which will further delay the completion of this critical project.
10. The take-off grant for the Maritime University in Delta state
The take-off grant for the Maritime University in Delta state, a key strategic initiative of the federal government, was cut from 5 billion Naira to 3.4 billion Naira.
In addition, President Buhari said that about seventy (70) new road projects have been inserted into the budget of the federal ministry of power, works and housing.
"In doing so, the National Assembly applied some of the additional funds expected from the upward review of the oil price benchmark to the Ministry’s vote. Regrettably, however, in order to make provision for some of the new roads, the amounts allocated to some strategic major roads have been cut by the National Assembly," he said.
President Buhari said despite all these observations, he had decided to sign the 2018 budget in order not to further slow down the pace of recovery of the economy which, he noted, had doubtlessly been affected by the delay in passing the budget.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the National Assembly explained why it delayed the 2018 budget and made a cut of N347 billion in the allocations to 4,700 projects submitted for consideration and why it introduced new 6,403 projects amounting to N578 billion.
Bala Na’ Allah, the deputy leader of the Senate who represented Senate president Bukola Saraki, and the chief whip of the House of Representatives, Alhassan Doguwa, who represented Speaker Yakubu Dogara, said the lawmakers had no option than to tinker with the budget estimates.
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Source: Legit.ng
