COVID-19: DIVERT RENOVATION FUND TO STATES - SERAP URGES NASS
Social - Economic Right and Accountability Project (SERAP) advises the National Assembly to divert the 37 billion Naira budgeted to renovate the National Assembly complex into states to curtail the effect of Coronavirus on citizens.
This proposition is contained in a letter written by the Deputy Director of SERAP, Kolawole Oludare to the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.
Oludare suggested that each of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja should be given one billion naira.
SERAP said, “We applaud the patriotic steps and voluntary contributions already made by the National Assembly towards fighting COVID-19 in the country. We now urge you to make major strides to national efforts to deal with one of the greatest threats facing the country by immediately redirecting the N37bn to provide direct and tangible benefits to the poorest and most vulnerable people among us.
“Nigeria is at a crossroads and the National Assembly leaders and members must now decide whether to continue to look after themselves and do little for the country’s poorest or make commitment to redirect the N37bn to help ameliorate the suffering caused by COVID-19 restrictions.
“While some of the authorities’ responses to COVID-19 across the country may be necessary to stop the spread of the disease and save lives, we are concerned that the prevailing situation has taken its toll on the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people who continue to endure the grimmest of conditions in several states and the FCT.
“We also urge you to immediately advise President Muhammadu Buhari and Mrs Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, to urgently implement your commitment to redirect the N37bn to provide direct and tangible benefits and reliefs to the country’s poorest and most vulnerable people.”
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