Bayelsa West Senator, Seriake Dickson, has once again stirred controversy with his latest remarks on the floor of the National Assembly, accusing President Bola Tinubu’s administration of focusing more on 2027 elections and political defections than solving Nigeria’s urgent economic and developmental challenges.
Speaking during Tuesday’s Senate plenary, the former Bayelsa State Governor blasted the federal government over the continued delay in implementing the capital component of the 2024 budget, describing it as a total grounding of governance.
“Contractors who have done their jobs and committed their resources cannot be paid. The benefits of the budget that we all worked on and passed have not gotten to the people,” he said.
“Maybe there is too much preoccupation with politics and 2027. Maybe there’s too much concentration on receiving defectors. Meanwhile, the business of the Nigerian people is not moving forward.”
The senator expressed disappointment that while the recurrent expenditure, which covers government salaries and overheads, has been fully released, the capital budget, which directly impacts infrastructure and development, remains untouched.
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He described the situation as both alarming and unacceptable, especially considering that government revenues have increased following the removal of fuel subsidy.
“We all supported the removal of fuel subsidy, and now there’s more money in the system. State and local governments are getting more. So the excuse of no money does not hold water.”
Despite the anger, Dickson and other lawmakers agreed not to oppose the bill seeking to extend the 2024 budget implementation timeline, in order to avoid a total shutdown of government operations. However, he demanded that the Senate launch a full investigation into why capital funds have not been released.
“Let Nigerians know that this Senate is alive to its responsibilities. Our committees must investigate and report back within a week. We cannot allow this to become the new normal,” he added.
The debate comes at a time of rising public discontent over economic hardship and perceived lack of direction in the Tinubu administration’s fiscal management.
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