Rep. Abdulmumini Jibrin, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, on Friday said that budgetary allocations to critical sectors expected to drive economic diversification were grossly inadequate.

Jibrin, (APC Kano state), promised that the committee would work assiduously on the 2016 budget and make necessary adjustments in order to save the country’s dwindling economy.

He said that the 8th National Assembly was committed to passing a budget that would promote diversification of the country’s economy.

Jibrin pledged that his committee would look critically into budgetary allocations to key sectors of the economy to ensure they aligned with the policy thrust of the APC-led administration.

“One of the policy thrust of the government is to diversify the economy by going into solid minerals and agriculture.

“But when you look at the budget, you will agree with me that allocations to critical sectors like solid mineral do not strike a balance with what the government says is its policy in terms of diversification.

“These are some of the adjustments the Appropriation committee carry out so that we can pass a budget that will strike a balance with the general policy thrust of various sectors in our national budget,’’ Jibrin said.

The chairman said that the committee would also look into budgetary allocations of anti graft agencies to ensure that they were properly funded to carry out their functions efficiently.

“The level at which the federal government has taken in the anti-corruption fight does not match the allocation provided for agencies like the EFCC and ICPC.

“We are going to take a very good look at it and see what we need to do so that they can have the kind of allocation that will strike a balance with the policy thrust of the government.

“Otherwise there is going to be a huge vacuum,’’ Jibrin said.

 

(NAN)