North East Govs demand review of 2021 budget
Governors in the North East have expressed dismay that despite the challenges of development, especially the infrastructural deficit in the region, the 2021 proposed Federal Government budget makes provision for only N45.32bn capital projects in the sub-region.
The proposal, they regretted, represent a paltry 0.35% of the proposed N13.02 trillion.
In a communique at the end of the 3rd meeting of the forum in Yola, Adamawa hosted by Governor Ahmad Fintiri, the governors alleged the North East has been shortchanged.
They demanded review of the 2021 budget in the spirit of equity and inclusion by the National Assembly.
They equally mandated the Northeast caucuses of the Senate and House of Representative to take immediate steps to redress the imbalance.
The forum also observed the sub-region has being unfairly treated in the provision of roads infrastructure by the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing.
The Governors further noted with dismay, the slow or outright non-existent progress on the pace of the roads already allocated in the sub-region, calling for immediate reactivation and review of the comatose existing road contracts in the sub-region.
They also expressed disappointment over the lack of budgetary provision in respect of the Mambilla Hydro Project in the 2021 budgetary proposals.
The governors present at the forum include Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi state alongside his colleagues in Gombe, Governor Inuwa Yahaya, Borno, Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, and Adamawa Governor Ahmed Fintiri .
The Governors of Taraba and Yobe states were represented by their Deputies.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State has being selected to host the fourth meeting of the Northeast Governors Forum (NEGF) scheduled for 3rd- 4th of March, 2021.
– The Nation
