Buhari blames delay in road project completion on budget adjustments by National Assembly
President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday blamed the delay in the completion of various road projects across the country on the series amendments on budgetary provisions presented to the National Assembly.
The President spoke through the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, at the inauguration of the first phase of Gombe-Yola Road which terminates in Kaltungo at Kumo in Gombe State.
President Buhari said on many occasions, the National Assembly, because of the power vested in the second arm of government, often amends the budgetary provisions which ultimately affect the implementation of many road projects.
“One of the major complaints that I discovered while going to the Federal Ministry of Works to complain about our roads in Gombe was budgetary provisions.
“Whenever they make recommendations in the budget for certain amount of money to complete that project with the power vested with the National Assembly, they usually amend, and that actually affects the implementation of that project,” he said.
President Buhari urged Nigerians living in the Northeast to engage their representatives in the National Assembly to ensure that there is enough budgetary provision for the roads provided for in the 2023 budget.
President Buhari said the pace of work on road construction depends on the budgetary provision on one hand and the fund released for such project, on the other hand.
“On the release of the money, we will reach out to the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the money budgeted for is released. But that release could not be attained without budgetary provision. So, budgetary provision is the primary foundation for completing all these roads.
“I want to assure you that if the provision is approved at the National Assembly, we will go to any extent – legitimately and legally – and ensure that the money is released for the project to be completed, particularly in the Northeast of this country,” he said.
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