2024 Budget: Reps seek more funding for transportation, health, education

On Friday in Abuja, the House of Representatives continued its debate on the 2024 appropriation bill, with some lawmakers demanding increased funding for transportation, health, and education.

Fredrick Agbedi (PDP-Bayelsa) said that in the transportation area, the people from the riverine areas were the most neglected, adding that no reference was made to their suffering.

“We appeared to be a people not considered in the 2024 appropriation bill; the federal government must attend to this,” Mr Agbedi said. “If the people who need our help can be connected by rail, it will solve our problem.“

Mr Agbedi said the state governments were constructing most federal roads in the three senatorial districts in Bayelsa, adding that this alone made them feel neglected.

Rep. Ginger Owusibe (LP-Abia) said the title of the 2024 budget, “Renewed Hope,” emphasised the importance of the budget to the country.

He said that considering the UNESCO 26 per cent recommendation for education, the 2024 appropriation needed to meet the standard, adding that this should be considered to achieve success.

The lawmaker said the budget for the health sector was not enough, considering the experience of COVID-19 in 2020, adding that there should be adequate provision to tackle any emergency.

Mr Owusibe said all geopolitical zones must be treated equally in project distribution, adding that the South-East region had been mistreated.

On his part, Domini Okafor (APGA-Anambra) said the budget theme could not have come at a better time when the hope of Nigerians needed to be renewed.