Categories: NEWS

2024 Budget: Umahi Seeks More Money For Infrastructure

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has requested more money for his ministry.

The former Governor of Ebonyi State is proposing an increase in the 2024 budget allocation from N657.22 billion to N1.5 trillion.

Umahi requested the defence of the 2024 Budget estimate for the Ministry of Works before the National Assembly Joint Committees on Appropriation.

READ ALSO: Gov Lawal Hails Military, Sympathizes With Victims Of Bandits’ Attacks

He emphasized that this increment would facilitate the completion of at least 10 critical roads and bridges in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

He also presented a request for an Emergency Fund of approximately 30% of the Budget Provision which, according to him, would “cater for unforeseen emergencies that regularly occur on the road network, especially during the rainy season.”

Sponsored

The minister further urged for an “urgent review of all certified debts to contractors and, if possible, convert the same to Promissory Notes to contractors so that we can get properly focused on using any fund appropriated to us to pursue the Ministry’s set objectives.”

Concerning inflation, the Minister emphasized that “many contractors are presently out of sites because they have exhausted their contract VoPs and needed the projects’ unit rates to be reviewed.

“It will be good that all VoPs and augmentations of all the projects are reviewed, and those that are owed be converted to Promissory Notes, while the unit rates regime will take effect on contractors in line with the current realities of the construction industry,” he added.

The Minister advocated for “more eligible companies to be encouraged to key into the Road Tax Credit Scheme to increase the number of private sector interventions. This means front-loading their tax liabilities to solve our present challenges.”

SPONSORED
Nobert Okechukwu

Recent Posts

Nigeria’s Chief Of Defence Staff Hails Simon Ekpa’s Arrest, Awaits Extradition

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said he hoped that with the arrest…

7 hours ago

Gov. Sanwo-Olu Presents ₦3trn 2025 Budget To Lagos Assembly

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos has presented the sum of ₦3.005 trillion before the state…

9 hours ago

Abia CP Storms Ohafia, Vows To Smoke Out Gunmen Who Attacked Police Officers

Abia State Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa on Wednesday led an operation along Asaga…

10 hours ago

Abia Man Urges Gov. Otti To Borrow Former Governors’ Models To Tackle Insecurity

Popular Abia-born journalist and online publisher Ifeanyi Okali has called on the state governor, Dr.…

11 hours ago

Akpabio-led Senate Approves Tinubu’s Fresh $2.2bn Loan Request

The Senate, on Thursday, approved the $2.2 billion fresh loan request by President Bola Ahmed…

12 hours ago

Popular Attorney And Activist Shot Dead In Benue

Mike Ofikwu, an activist and lawyer from Otukpo, was brutally killed by unidentified armed men…

14 hours ago