Parliament

Speaker to Tinubu: Nigerians going through difficult times

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has told President Bola Tinubu that the current administration cannot afford to fail Nigerians by changing the rots and chart a new course for the citizenry.

Abbas said this while giving his remarks during the presentation of the 2024 appropriation bill by President Tinubu.

He said it was a well-known fact that millions of the citizenry were living through incredibly difficult times.

The Speaker said: “For this reason, they also look to the Tinubu-led government to provide quick and sustainable solutions.”

According to him, the antecedents of the President and his track record in governance inspire a lot of hope in Nigerians, and it is for this reason that we cannot afford to fail Nigerians.

He said: “If anyone can change the rot and chart a new course for Nigeria, it is you. I have no doubt whatsoever that we can measure up to the expectations of Nigerians through your visionary leadership and the commitment of the National Assembly.”

He said the budget laid before the lawmakers should not be seen as a mere financial document, but as a reflection of our collective resolve to address the most critical needs of our long-suffering citizens.

The Speaker said in order to promote economic growth and development, the 2024 Budget should prioritised social welfare programmes to help reduce poverty and inequality.

“Equally important is job creation and youth empowerment in view of the large and ever-growing youth population,” he added.

2024 Budget: Tinubu prioritises security, economy, job creation, human devt

Abbas said failure to do this would amount to failure to invest in the future of the country, adding that the budget must prioritise investment in education and healthcare.

This, according to him, is critical to human capital development and a more productive workforce.

He said infrastructure development is another critical area of importance, which is crucial for economic growth, adding that the biggest challenge was balancing these priorities within the constraints of available resources.

Abbas said in view of the related challenge of a high level of public debt, NASS would ensure that the 2024 budget includes concrete strategies for sustainable debt management.

This, he said, includes measures to increase revenue and control expenditure, adding that the focus should be on raising more revenue through tax reform, fiscal reform, and subsidy reform.

Others include foreign exchange convergence, and centralised revenue collection among others

The Speaker called for an urgent need for revenue-generating agencies to double their targets to meet the N18 trillion in revenue projected in the budget.

He added that the effectiveness and legitimacy of fiscal policies depend to a very large extent on public support.

The Star

Editor

Recent Posts

TCN: Why national grid collapsed

The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has explained the reason behind the collapse of the…

6 hours ago

Police officer dies in Lagos-Ibadan expressway accident

A police officer has been confirmed dead in an accident involving a truck and two…

6 hours ago

FG unveils free cesarean sections for women to combat maternal mortality

The Federal Government has unveiled a nationwide free cesarean section initiative aimed at reducing Nigeria’s…

9 hours ago

National grid collapses for second time in 3 days

The national grid has again collapsed, leading to a nationwide blackout. This is the second…

12 hours ago

‘Doing harm to kids’: Australia to ban children under 16 from social media

Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to ban children under 16 from social media,…

15 hours ago

Lagos govt shuts churches, hotels over noise pollution

The Lagos State Government has shut churches, including the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)…

15 hours ago

This website uses cookies.