By Abbanobi – Eku Onyeka
Senators from Northern Nigeria have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of portance and urgency, address what they allegedly saw as injustice against the North by his administration.
Senators from this part of the country, numbering 58 had on Monday in Abuja alleged that projections and provisions of the N28.7 trillion 2024 budget, were skewed against the North, even as they frowned at relocating some federal agencies from Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to Lagos, a development they seriously viewed as disturbing to them.
In a statement titled: Allocation and Distribution of Funds in 2024 Budget and Relocation of Some Federal Agencies to Lagos, signed by their spokesperson and the representative of Kano, (NNPP), Senator Suleiman Kawu Summaila, sent to media houses, the senators however said that they were ready to dialogue with the executive toward reversal of the alleged lopsidedness.
He said: “As representatives of the people at the 10th Senate, we are committed to addressing the concerns and feelings of our constituents regarding certain decisions and policies put forth by the Federal Government (FG), in particular, lopsidedness in the distribution and allocation of resources in the 2024 budget, relocation of some federal agencies from Abuja to Lagos which we seriously viewed with concern and disturbing.
“We understand the importance of fostering a harmonious relationship between the government and its citizens, and it is in this spirit that we are announcing our collective efforts to seek an amicable resolution to these pressing issues, within the confines of our constitution and existing laws.
“We are assuring our constituents that we have taken their concerns seriously and are actively engaging with our colleagues in order to address these matters effectively.”
The statement continued: “We firmly believe in the power of open dialogue and collaboration to bring about positive change for our nation. We recognize the significance of our role as a bridge between the people and their government, and it is with great responsibility and dedication that we undertake this task. We acknowledge that our constituents have shown great patience and trust in our abilities thus far.
“It is now our turn to ask for their continued support and understanding during this critical juncture. We urge our constituents to remain patient as we diligently explore avenues for dialogues, engage in peaceful negotiations, and deploy legal measures where necessary.”
Recall that the N28 .7trillion 2024 budget was passed by both chambers of the National Assembly on the 30th of December, 2023 and assented to, by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, January 1, 2024, which made it a law.
