By Musa Baba Adamu
The National Assembly Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Regional Development has queried the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, over non-adherence to the federal character principle in situating projects of the defunct Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The Committee noted that 70 per cent of the ministry’s projects for 2024 were domiciled in Edo state.
It added that the ministry’s budget favoured Edo State over other states that were supposed to have benefitted from its projects.
The Committee expressed displeasure when the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh and Minister of state, Uba Maigari, appeared before the it to defend the 2024 budget performance and the 2025 proposal.
A member of the House of Representatives, Matthew Nwogu, questioned the Minister on why 70 percent of the projects for 2024 were located in Edo State.
Nwogu said, “Mr Minister, tell us why most of these 2024 budgets (projects) are situated in Edo State?”
The Lawmaker wondered why other states were excluded while the bulk of the projects went to Edo State.
Another member of the Committee, Chinedu Ogar, also asked the miynister to explain why 70 percent of the 2025 proposed projects of the ministry are also located in Edo State.
“Honorable Minister, I am happy that you are a product of the National Assembly. My constituents are not happy with this your budget because it negates the constitutional principle of federal character. About 70 percent of your projects are located in Edo state. Why?” Ogar asked.
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