In his debate, Samson Ekong (Akwa Ibom South) noted that the budget paid attention to major flanks of defence, infrastructure and agriculture. He emphasised that while the list was commendable, the most important to ensure strict implementation of the defence budget as providing security would determine how well agriculture and other sectors would thrive.
“We cannot sleep when our space is not safe, when our borders are insecure. The implementation of this budget will make all the difference.”
Similarly, Francis Adefadausi (Osun East) noted that if insecurity is not tackled properly, the 24 percent of the proposed budget given to the defence sector would not yield results. He equally noted that agriculture would also improve if insecurity is tackled.
In the same vein, Diket Plang (Plateau Central) noted that without security, all items listed will not work, but with security in place, agriculture will enjoy a bumper harvest.
Victor Umeh (Anambra Central) called attention to the exclusion of the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Railway Line, which is the Eastern line in the budget. “It appears that it has been overlooked again.” He urged the Senate to intervene by including it during the consideration of the budget.
The exclusion of the South South Development Commission was also raised as a concern by some lawmakers, in addition to the fiscal projections. One of such lawmakers, Sadie Usman (Kwara North) called for caution in the government’s spending, so it does not escalate information. He was supported by Ndubueze Patrick (Imo North), who urged the government to allow market mechanisms determine the Naira/Dollar exchange rate instead of pegging it at N1500 in the budget proposal.