This Day (Lagos)
Sufuyan Ojeifo
2 July 2009
Abuja — The Senate has approved N22.5 billion virement from the 2009 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) budget for the construction of additional six lanes on each carriageway of the Outer Northern Expressway (ONEX), including two flyover bridges and rehabilitation of Airport road flyover.
When completed, the expanded expressway, aimed at decongesting the perennial vehicular traffic, would have a total of 10 lanes (five lanes on either side).
The approved sum was N3.18 billion less than the N25.971 billion requested by Yar'Adua's in an executive communication to the Senate, dated 5th June 2009.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Iyiola Omisore, in a report he presented to the Senate, said the money would be sourced from the budget of 16 Departments and Agencies in the FCT.
A total of N4.18 billion and N2.1 billion was deducted from the Education, Health and Social Services Departments respectively.
The approval did not receive the support of all senators. Some senators opposed the approval of the virement request on the grounds that moneys were deducted from the health and education sectors that are critical to the wellbeing of the masses.
Senator Ahmed Lawan observed that education and health services were very basic and essential to the wellbeing of the people.
According to him, "While supporting this virement, I want to make some observations. Education and health services are very basic and essential and cannot wait. We cannot afford to wait till 2010 budget.
"I think we can afford to take money from other sectors but taking money from education and health is not good enough. We cannot take money from education and health to pay for liabilities. Liabilities can wait for 2010 budget."
Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN) stated, "I support dualisation of the roads because it is the gateway to the FCT. But I am, however lost. If you look at the areas where the money is been taking from, the report does not show whether what is left for those sectors would be enough for their projects and programmes for the remaining part of this year.
"I believe some projects are too critical. We cannot take money from education and health. Our masses come first. It is only a living being that can use the dualised roads."
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