2024 Budget not in favour of the North, Northern Senators

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Northern caucus in the Senate has kicked against the 2024 budget.

The Northern Senators claim the budget is against their people.

Senator Suleiman Kawu Summaila of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, (NNPP) spoke on behalf of th remaining Senators after an extensive meeting and consultation with other members.

The Senators is the North are drawn from All Progresives Congress, (APC), Labour Party, (LP) and the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP). All of them put their different political differences aside to speak as one.

There are 58 Senators from Northern Nigeria.

They spoke under the Northern Senators Forum.

The Senators said the projection of the N28.7tn 2024 budget undermines the North.

They raised objections to plans to relocate some Federal Government institutions from Abuja to the South.

An official of Oodua Nationalist Coalition, (ONAC) Ayo Odunsi told Irohinoodua that he wondered where the Northern Senators were when former President Mohammadu Buhari building fresh military institutions in the North and extending railway stations to Niger Republic. He said for keeping quite in the last eight years was an indication that in the past eight years the budgets favoured the North.

The position of Northern Senators read by Senator Suleiman Kawu Summaila ( NNPP, Kano South) on Monday in Abuja had the headline, “Allocation and distribution of funds in 2024 National Budget and Relocation of some Federal Agencies to Lagos.”

The Northern Senators stated that as representatives of the people at the national level (Senate), they are committed to addressing the concerns and feelings of their constituents regarding certain decisions and policies put forth by the Federal Government.

The Senators raised objections to what it considered the lopsidedness in the distribution and allocation of resources in the 2024 budget and the relocation of some federal agencies from Abuja to Lagos.

The Northern Senators said “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.

They assured their constituencies that they have taken their concerns seriously and are actively engaging with their colleagues to address the matters effectively.

The Senators said they firmly believe in the power of open dialogue and collaboration to bring about positive change for our nation.

They said “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.

The Senators acknowledge that their constituents have shown great patience and trust in their abilities thus far adding that it is their turn to ask for their continued support and understanding during this critical juncture.

They stated “We urge our constituents to remain patient as we diligently explore avenues for dialogues, engage in peaceful negotiations, and deploy legal measures where necessary.”

The N28 .7tn 2024 budget was passed for third reading by both chambers of the National Assembly on December 30, 2023, and was assented to by President Bola Tinubu on Monday, January 1, 2024.