A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ukodhiko Jonathan representing Isoko North/Isoko South Federal Constituency of Delta State has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu budget presentation over picking security among others as top priorities of the 2024 budget.
The lawmaker who spoke with newsmen shortly after the presentation of the budget said, they is no nation that can develop without adequate security.
The immediate past commissioner for Energy in Delta State, noted that with the impact that the security agencies are making, coupled with what the Executive and Legislative arm of government are coming together to do, insecurity will soon be reduce to the bearest minimum.
“Tinubu-led government want to see how it can properly fund the security system, and the system is going to improve soon and the country will become safer in order to attract local and foreign investments”.
the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government cannot deliver on its Renewed Hope Agenda without having to undertake borrowing of money to fund critical projects.
On the consistent borrowing of money to fund part of our budget, Hon. Jonathan said with the current situation in the country there’s no way Nigeria can move forward without borrowing.
“First and foremost, I want to thank Mr president for presenting this wonder budget that he tagged as the budget of hope. We hope that this budget will touch and have an impact on the lives of our people.
“If you look at the way things are in Nigeria right now, there’s no way we can move forward without borrowing. We have to borrow for the government to be able to fund critical projects that are going on to impact the lives of the people,” he said.
When asked if the log of debts will not have negative impacts on Nigerians yet unborn, he said, “As you know, your children cannot be hungry, and you’ll say because you’ve gotten something from somebody which you’ve not paid, then the children should continue to die in hunger? It’s not possible!”
According to him, the government is doing everything possible to touch the lives of the people while noting that most of the proposed borrowing are geared towards social investments in the lives of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker has called on Nigerians to support the government and give it a chance to move the nation forward, he expressed hope that the future is bright for our country.
Considering the time the budget was presented and the fears of many that the current assembly might not be able to pass the appropriation bill before the end of the year in order to remain in the January to December budget circle as ran by the immediate past government led by Muhammadu Buhari, Hon. Jonathan expressed optimism that the budget will be passed on or before the end of December, 2023.
According to him, “The budget is going to be pass without delay. As you know, the President has made it very clear and appealed to the lawmakers to expedite the passage of the 2024 Appropriation.
“On Thursday, we’re going to seat to start deliberating on the budget. So give or take, before the end of December, we’ll be done with the budget and pass it on”, he said.
When asked about the proper implementation of the budget, he said, “If you watch this government, since they came in they’ve been matching their words with actions. With our present President, we believe that the budget is going to be implemented to the latter”.
Hon. Jonathan said the lawmakers will carry out their oversight functions to ensure the budget is properly implemented so as to have impacts in the lives of the people.
