The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen
Abbas, says the current administration cannot afford to fail Nigerians by
changing the rules and charting a new course for the citizenry.
Abbas said this while giving his remarks during the
presentation of the 2024 appropriation bill by President Bola Tinubu.
He said it was a well-known fact that millions of the
citizenry were living through incredibly difficult times.
He said, “For this reason, they also look to the Tinubu-led government to provide quick and sustainable solutions.”
According to him, the antecedents of the President and your
track record in governance inspire a lot of hope in Nigerians, and it is for
this reason that we cannot afford to fail Nigerians.
He said, “If anyone can change the rot and chart a new
course for Nigeria, it is you.
I have no doubt whatsoever that we can measure up to the
expectations of Nigerians through your visionary leadership and the commitment
of the National Assembly.
He said the budget laid before the lawmakers should not be
seen as a mere financial document but as a reflection of our collective resolve
to address the most critical needs of our long-suffering citizens.
He said that in order to promote economic growth and
development, the 2024 budget should prioritise social welfare programmes to
help reduce poverty and inequality.
He said, “Equally important is job creation and youth
empowerment in view of the large and ever-growing youth population.
He said failure to do this would amount to failure to invest
in the future of the country, adding that the budget must prioritise investment
in education and healthcare.
This, according to him, is critical to human capital
development and a more productive workforce.
He said, “Infrastructure development is another critical
area of importance, which is crucial for economic growth, adding that the
biggest challenge was balancing these priorities within the constraints of
available resources.
Abbas said that in view of the related challenge of a high
level of public debt, NASS would ensure that the 2024 budget includes concrete
strategies for sustainable debt management.
This, he said, includes measures to increase revenue and
control expenditure, adding that the focus should be on raising more revenue
through tax reform, fiscal reform, and subsidy reform.
Others include foreign exchange convergence and centralised
revenue collection, among others.
The sparker called for an urgent need for revenue-generating
agencies to double their targets to meet the N18 trillion in revenue projected
in the budget.
He added that the effectiveness and legitimacy of fiscal
policies depend to a very large extent on public support.
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