Uproar as Senate cuts Education, health budgets to fund N25 billion Abuja Road
National News Jul 1, 2009 …slash N350 million budget for horses

By Emmanuel Aziken
The Senate today (Wednesday) approved cut N6.2 billion out of funds meant for education and health in the Federal Capital Territory towards funding the N25 billion expansion work on two major roads in the federal capital.

The approval was, however, trailed by criticism from several Senators who faulted the decision to cut education and health funds for the airport road and Kubwa road expressway expansion projects.

The Senate, nevertheless, removed N250 million from the N350 million provided for the purchase of horses and stables in the 2009 budget of the FCT for the road construction project.

The report of the Senate committee on Appropriation recommending the virement of N25.9 billion from the 2009 FCT budget was presented by Senator Iyiola Omisore chairman of the Senate committee on Appropriation.

In recommending the virement proposal, Senator Omisore said it “would reduce the existing pressure on the existing facilities in the main city.’’

Out of the N25.7 billion requested, the executive had requested that N4.18 billion be cut from the education budget of the FCT for the year and another N2.1 billion from the health budget be slashed to meet the funding needs of the two road projects.

Besides, N7.5 billion is to be cut from provisions for Satellite towns infrastructure N7.5 and another N4.37 billion is to be excised from the proposals set aside for Engineering services.

Once Senator Omisore presented his report yesterday, Senator Ahmad Lawan (ANPP, Yobe North) immediately flayed the decision to shave the education and health budget to supplement the road contract.

“We cannot wait until 2010 before we treat our citizens and we cannot afford to keep our children or wards illiterate and that they should not go to school until 2010,’’ he said noting that cutting funds meant for education and health would militate against human development.

Supporting him, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) (PDP, Cross River Central) said:

“We cannot take money from education and health to build roads. It is only living human beings that can use roads.’’

Also speaking against the proposal, Senator James Manager (PDP, Delta South) said that Nigerians must be alive for them to ply the roads being constructed. He also raised questions on the value of the road project which according to him was left hanging.

In his own remarks, Senator Bassey Ewa-Henshaw (PDP, Cross River South) expressed reservations on why funds earmarked for entrepreneurial development were cut in favour of a road contract.

But supporting the committee’s recommendation, Senator Omisore said the cuts were done because of the realization that the funds meant for education and health could not be exhausted in 2009. Besides, he said that funds for the sectors could be supplemented if necessary through a supplementary budget.

Following the contributions and upon a voice vote, the Senate resolved to adopt the report.
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/07/01/uproar-as-senate-cuts-education-health-budgets-to-fund-n25-billion-abuja-road/comment-page-1/#comment-8915

And the dance of madness continues.

This Is Nigeria(TIN)

Yet our teachers are on strike presently and refineries are down all they can think about is diverting 25 billion naira to create roads in abuja. talk about misplaced priorities. now isnt that an indictment on the part of our lawmakers.

At least some of them spoke up

I cant imagine that a govt will wanna allow a cut to education to fund roads.
What do you expect since they all own schools anyways, and all dem kids are in USA, Canada and London schooling?
No wonder the worm called Atiku can say we need a govt that has education in mind.

@ Post,

until they stop sending their children to schools and going for medicals abroad,

the way forward is bleak for the health and education sector.

Subtle revolution is the key.

3Line:

@ Post,

until they stop sending their children to schools and going for medicals abroad,

the way forward is bleak for the health and education sector.

Subtle revolution is the key.

I agree with you.

Why are you people even shouting?
This is Nigeria where budget monies find their ways into the private accounts of the public office holders whose responsibilities includes ensuring full budget implementation.
What we need agitate for  is full implementation of budgets and not funds diversion because at the end of the day, the funds find their ways to private pockets.

As long as the rich theives can escape to Abuja, the rest of the country can go to hell. . . . they will sacrifice your basic amenities just to make Abuja lavish. . . . everything is nice in Abuja. . . security is good, roads are good etc. . . . soon enough, the whole of Nigeria will pour into Abuja (like they did to Lagos). . . .then the theives they will create another city to escape the madness.

roflmao!!!


funny stuff!!! By the way, who exactly is up in arms over this? The People who said it was ok to spend BILLIONS OF DOLLArs on road in just abuja while the rest of the country, including lagos gets a small fraction of that for road repairs? Or are you speaking of the elected officials who do not know their left from their right when it comes to what the people want?

For a developing country like ours Health & Education is very crucial for our progress.

Now before I jump the gun; We need to know what was earmarked for the Health sector and the benefit the nation is expected to gain from such government expenditure.

The same goes for Education.

The benefit should invariably lead to an increase in comfort, health, and safety of the populace, How much of an increase is the main issue??

What would the benefit would the new constructed road bring to the populace??

Ibime:

As long as the rich theives can escape to Abuja, the rest of the country can go to hell. . . . they will sacrifice your basic amenities just to make Abuja lavish. . . . everything is nice in Abuja. . . security is good, roads are good etc. . . . soon enough, the whole of Nigeria will pour into Abuja (like they did to Lagos). . . .then the theives they will create another city to escape the madness.

they can't hide for long though. what's the next mega city?

This is common sense people, you use debt (like bonds) for business expenditures like roads where you can generate money from toll gate fees. While you use budgetary allocations on education. Gosh, naija sef, oro ilu yi ti ma n suyan.

when will this nigeria learn?

Ibime:

As long as the rich theives can escape to Abuja, the rest of the country can go to hell. . . . they will sacrifice your basic amenities just to make Abuja lavish. . . . everything is nice in Abuja. . . security is good, roads are good etc. . . . soon enough, the whole of Nigeria will pour into Abuja (like they did to Lagos). . . .then the theives they will create another city to escape the madness.

yes ooo!

Sam Milla:

when will this nigeria learn?

LEARN WHAT. IF A DONKEY CAN LEARN THEN NIGERIA WILL LEARN. ABEG TALK OF SOMETHING BETTER.

Of all the budgets to cut, they decided on Education and health.
The ones that wont affect their globetrotting children.
Poor education sector that never gets a break.

This is some bullsh.it ,man.

Here we go AGAIN!! 25 BILLION ON ROAD!! I neva hear this one before, the road get gold curbs?

With all the billions been pumped into the education and health sectors, where is the impact. Teachers have gone on strike and now doctors are, once again about to follow. We like talk o.

presido1:

This Is Nigeria(TIN)

lol, true talk

God help us!

OK, here is the deal:

All the money spent so far on education, health etc, what development has it brought unto Nigeria? One idiot is sitting at the board of directors already strategizing how large his own national cake would be for it!

OR

All the money spent on road construction and rehabilitation, how far has it brought us as a nation?



Either way, misplaced priorities or not, CORRUPTION must have its way!

his the way the National assembly works. Every body speaks against it nd when its time for a voice vote, they all say "YEh"

I think its time we know how each senator votes, understand there vote patterns etc. we cannot get this by using voice votes. Do what Ken Nnamani did. each and every senator should be made to speak out individually.

And not the usual " If you want road construction say Yeah and if against say Nah" It is ridiculous.

palmwine:

his the way the National assembly works. Every body speaks against it nd when its time for a voice vote, they all say "YEh"

I think its time we know how each senator votes, understand there vote patterns etc. we cannot get this by using voice votes. Do what Ken Nnamani did. each and [size=16pt]every senator should be made to speak out individually.

And not the usual " If you want road construction say Yeah and if against say Nah" It is ridiculous.[/size]

[size=22pt]Gbam!![/size]

9ijaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Ooh my God what wisdom is this for crying out loud.



Those leaders are worth being hung to death.



their days are numbered.

This shows that the interest of our leaders tends farer than the people.

GBAM!!!
Nigge -area!!!
kai . . we r done walahi

The amt set for the road is irrelevant. They should channer the fund to do other federal roads in the country like benin- ore, lagos- ibadan, onitsha highway

The corrupt politicans should all face firing squad. many sectors in the country ar on strike and yet they are chasing illegal things

u see when u talk about em corruption in a PC software

im begining to believe these baffoons brain cell has be corrupted just like in a software

cuz i just dnt get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ANGRY

imagine yaramugu plegdin the west to fullfill their plegde, and has these looters done anything for their country

u have lagos-onitsha road etc that need to be envy of the world in dire need

to add more injury it takes a foolish man to drive in a road in his country; oshodi lagos to realise that the road need serious maintainance and he has the gut to tell the whiteman far away across the atlantic to honour his plegdes!!

if it was about replacin every blantant post with northern looter, hey heaven arent no limit

oya David Marks

those that want eba say yes

those that want somolina

say nooooooooooo

those that want ghana must go bag

say yes

nawoooooo ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaa

Sad but if the $$ is used for education, it's isn't as if there are jobs later which would help people afford healthcare, At least the road would improve transportation/business/economy,
Just being optimistic about a sad situation.