Senators from the south-east have alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari excluded the region from his proposed $22.7billion spending plan thus prompt
Senators from the south-east have alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari excluded the region from his proposed $22.7billion spending plan thus prompting them to meet with the leadership of the national assembly to seek adjustments in the plan as presented by the president, TheCable reports.
Buhari had sought the lawmakers’ approval for the loan request which he said will be used to finance key infrastructure across the country as contained in the spending plan. While the senate approved the request but with grumblings from some members of the senate, the house of representatives is yet to consider it.
However, the south-east senators said the region must be accommodated in the plan if it will be part of those to repay it. Former deputy senate president, Ike Ekweremadu said the lawmakers are hoping that relevant adjustments will be made in the proposal before implementation.
“We are believing that the matter would either be revisited or since it has not been passed by the house the right thing would be done and then our peoples fears would be assuaged. We believe that equity and justice should be the way forward for our country to make progress as their thinking is for an equitable distribution.
“Our thinking is that what the federal government is presenting was a borrowing plan; being a borrowing plan there is still opportunity for us to look at the distribution so that every part of Nigeria would have a sense of belonging on how the loan would be managed. We believe that every part of Nigeria is part and parcel of the repayment. So, if we are going to be part and parcel of the repayment, not makes every sense to be part of the utilisation of those funds.”
