Nigeria’s upper legislative chamber, Senate and the lower chamber, House of Representatives have vowed to ensure that all the electioneering campaign promises are delivered to the people through the 2024 budget.
The chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Barinada Mpigi stated this while addressing the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi and members of his team at the National Assembly.
The Minister and his team today appeared before the Joint Committee of both chambers to defend the Ministry’s 2024 budget.
Senator Mpigi, representing South-East Senatorial district of Rivers state, said the committee will ensure that the campaign promises of all the lawmakers and Mr. President are delivered as the expectations of the people are very high.
He said the 10th National Assembly under the leadership of Senator Godswill Akpabio and Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, is transparent, and totally in support of the visions of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In his remarks, the co-chairman of the Joint Committee, Hon Akinola Alabi noted that the state of road infrastructure in Nigeria is a major concern that requires concrete effort to address.
Hon. Alabi who is the Chairman, House Committee on Works, said Nigerians must see themselves as partners in progress, stressing that this is the time to take a pragmatic approach in solving our infrastructural problems so as to promote the economic growth and infrastructural development of our country.
“Our effort on this 2024 budget must keep Hope alive for our people. The expectations out there are huge on us. We must collectively work together to ensure the positive transformation that we all crave for”.
He stated that budget defense is not an exercise that’s targeted at witch hunting people, rather a call to duty towards nation building.
On his part, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said road infrastructure is a common denominator that connects both the rich and the poor.
“My understanding of road infrastructure is that it represents everything about the development of a nation.
“If you want to build a nation, build the roads. If you have good roads it will address security, agriculture, trade and investment, commerce, education, health, everything. Road is a common denominator that connects both the rich and the poor”, he said.
The former governor of Ebonyi State said good road infrastructure will help to cut down inflation in Nigeria, saying the prices of agricultural produce are on the increase owing to bad roads.
