Hold N’Assembly Members Responsible in Event of Flooding, Stakeholders Tell Nigerians

Adedayo Akinwale in Abuja

Some concerned Nigerians under the aegis of Critical Stakeholders have called on Nigerians to hold members of the National Assembly responsible in the event of flood disaster this year.

The Leader of the group, Godwin Ezenwata, while addressing a press conference yesterday, in Abuja, said the decision by the National Assembly to alter the 2022 supplementary budget which made copious provisions for flood control infrastructure was a great disservice to the nation’s desire to mitigate flooding and its impact.

He noted that the lawmakers tinkered with the sum of N180 billion earmarked for the construction and rehabilitation of roads among other flood control infrastructures across the country by ‘disproportionately re-allocating in a skewed manner to suit their selfish interest.’

Against this background, Ezenwata appealed to President Bola Tinubu to halt the ongoing amendment by the lawmakers.

The stakeholders added that contracts for most of the erosion control projects have been awarded with works at advanced stages of completion.

Following President Bola Tinubu’s demand that the National Assembly should amend the 2022 supplementary Appropriation Act to make provisions for N500 million to cushion the effect of subsidy removal, the lawmakers substantially tinkered with the act and slashed provisions made for flood control.

The amended budget showed that the sum of N10 million each was allocated for three road projects in Nasarawa. 

Similarly, N10 million each was allocated for Idah-Nsukka Road, section IV and section V of Kano-Maiduguri Road, and Augie-Bubuche road in Kebbi state.