Budget Cut: SESSNet Blasts S/East, S/South Senators
Angry SESSNet queries South-East, South-South Senators to defend allegations raised on the 2018 budget
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The South-East South-South Network [SESSNet] on Wednesday angrily demanded explanations from South East and South-South Senators on the removal of N1.5 billion from N2 billion budgeted for the construction of the international terminal building at the Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu, and the reduction of the take-off grant of the Maritime University in Delta from N5 billion to N3.4 billion.
The group in a statement issued in Abuja and signed by Kalada Apiafi and Obi Osuji wondered how could both regions that have Senators like Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, Senator John Enoch from Cross Rivers state as chairman, Senate Committee on Finance and Senator Sonni Ogbuoji as Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation be shortchanged in the 2018 budget without raising an eyebrow about it.
The statement reads, ” It is amazing that the regions with Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President, Senator John Enoch from Cross Rivers state as chairman, Senate Committee on Finance and Senator Sonni Ogbuoji as Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation be shortchanged in the 2018 budget without raising an eyebrow.
“South-East and South-South have been crying for years about the continuous marginalisation of the regions by previous administrations, and it is amazing that lawmakers from regions will keep silent when they are being shortchanged in development of their regions.
“Based on a statement delivered by President Muhammadu Buhari, no capital project is reduced in the Northern region of the country while the projects that would have benefited both regions (SE/SS) are reduced in the presence of our representatives.
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“We hereby demand explanations from our lawmakers at the National Assembly on completion of the International Terminal building at the Akanu Ibiam Airport Enugu and take off grant of Maritime University, Delta state or else we will declare them unfit to represent South-East, South-South in the National Assembly. ”
This should be-be considered as a warning shot for the 2019 coming election as we begin to mobilise against their re-election if the issue raised and not addressed satisfactorily.
