Tinubu increases constituency funds to one billion Naira to enhance development  – Akiba

From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar

The lawmaker representing Calabar Municipality and Odukpani Federal Constituency in Cross River State Hon. Bassey Akiba says President Tinubu has graciously increased constituency funds from 200m to 1 billion naira to enhance development.

Hon. Akiba disclosed this in Calabar while launching the second phase of his educational support programme for students in the constituency.

“When we came in, our constituency fund was 200 million naira. With the wisdom of the president and understanding that house members represent  constituencies he magnanimously increased it to one billion naira.

“The constituency funds are not given directly to lawmakers but it’s an envelope and we select what the funds can accommodate”, he said.

He further disclosed that the funds will be channeled into three key segments of the constituency  in line with his mandate which is livelihood support, health support and also educational support.

He explained that this far, over 2000 constituents have benefitted from scholarships and other interventions, under the educational support component within two years of his mandate.

Hon. Akiba also disclosed that 70% of the constituency funds for this year’s budget which is about 700 million will go into education which will cover scholarships, construction, renovation and provision of learning materials in schools within the constituency.

In a keynote address, the Obonganwan of Nsidung,  Barbara James  welcomed the intervention and investments in education.

She said every child has the right to be educated and it’s our collective responsibility to ensure that the rights are enforced

Also speaking, Professor Stephen Odey, the state Commissioner for Education said the gesture by the honourable member is laying a good foundation for future leaders.

Professor Odey whose speech was delivered by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry  Francis Adebe Oyije  said education is capital expensive and government cannot do it all alone.

He called on others to also rally round and support the government to provide quality education in the state.