Dr. Jonathan, in a statement titled “Re:2013 amendment budget”, urged the lawmakers to restore the deductions to promote national development.
He warned that failure to restore the deductions would exacerbate the unemployment situation as well as make it difficult for the government to meet its obligations to its workers.
Though Jonathan did not say where the National Assembly put N72.4 billion it reduced from the budget, some observers noted that some of the cuts made by the lawmakers were uncalled for.
The observers said that the National Assembly should not have tampered with allocations made for construction of roads, amount voted for creation of jobs, health facilities and power projects.
The President recalled that he had transmitted the 2013 amendment budget proposal to the National Assembly on March 14.
He noted that following further consultations, he had sent a new version of the categorised 2013 amendment budget proposal indicating changes proposed across the expenditure categories.
He said: “The capital projects have now been designated as follows: “critical” is designated as (I); “important” is designated as (ii) and “others” designated as (iii).
“Some Capital Projects, the allocations of which were reduced and which we seek your cooperation in restoring so as to promote national development, include the following:
“Ministry of Works: Abuja- Lokoja Road reduced by N4 billion; Kano-Maiduguri Road reduced by N3.5billion; Dualisation of Ibadan-Ilorin Section 2 reduced by N5.5billion; rehabilitation of Jebba Bridge reduced by N1.25billion; rehabilitation of burnt Marine Bridge and Iddo Bridge reduced by N1billion; Special Intervention Funds for Emergency Roads and Bridges washed out across the country reduced by N6.28billion; Dualisation of Obajana Junction to Benin reduced by N4billion etc.
“Ministry of Health: MDG HIV/AIDS ARV drugs allocation reduced by N1billion; Routine Immunisation Vaccines reduced by N1.75billion; Malaria Programme procurement and distribution of insecticides reduced by N0.8billion; payment of pledge for Onchocerciasis Recertification cut by N0.12billion; National Trauma Centre, Abuja reduced by N0.1billion, etc.
“Ministry of Power: A total of N16.3billion was cut from power projects, including the 215 Mega Watts Kaduna Dual Fired Power Plant, which was reduced by N2.25billion; 2nd Kaduna- Kano 33KV DC Lines reduced by N1.5billion; Gombe-Yola- Jalingo 330KV SC Line reduced by N0.6billion; Maiduguri 330/132KV Sub-station reduced by N0.3billion; Kaduna-Jos 330KV DC Line reduced by N0.5billion; Omotosho-Epe-Ajah 330KV DC Line reduced by N0.8billion, etc.
“Ministry of Transport: Construction of Abuja-Kaduna Rail was reduced by N1.4billion; Jebba- Kano Rail Line Rehabilitation reduced by N0.5billion; Procurement and rehabilitation of Wagons/Locomotives reduced by N1billion; Insurance of Locomotives reduced by N0.2billion, etc.
“Ministry of Education: Allocations to various projects were reduced to the tune of N5.64billion, including the National Library Project which was cut by N2billion.
“SURE-P: We all appreciate the fact that unemployment is our major concern in this country today.
“Considering the gravity of the situation, I would like to bring up the issue of the budgetary allocation to the Community Services, Women and Youth Employment Programme under the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).
“Against our proposal of N27billion, the National Assembly allocated N9billion.
“This cut will have the adverse effect of severely undermining our capacity to create the jobs needed for our teeming unemployed youths, women and physically-challenged citizens.
“In this regard, I crave your cooperation to restore the SURE-P budget.
“You will further recall that the personnel cost was cut across all Ministry Departments and Agencies which will make it difficult to meet government’s obligations to its workers.
“I, therefore, seek your kind understanding for the restoration of the said cuts in order to maintain industrial harmony.”
Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, however, insisted that the National Assembly has the power to alter the Appropriation Bill.
Abaribe noted that it would be improper for the National Assembly to return the budget the way it was presented by the President.
Source: The Nation
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