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2022 Budget: Reps Fear Economy Collapse, Say Debt Servicing Too High

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As the legislative debate on the 2022 budget, which was presented to the joint session of lawmakers by President Muhammadu Buhari last week continued on Wednesday, members of the House of Representatives expressed concerns over the high rate of debt servicing.

While each lawmaker took turns to speak on the highlight of the budget which stood at N16.39 trillion, they maintained that the proposed budgetary provision for debt servicing was 25 per cent of the entire budget, saying it was on the high side.

Those who spoke extensively on the worrisome debt servicing was the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Hon. Luke Onofiok who observed that the sum of N3.9 trillion for debt servicing representing about 25 percent of the whole budget was worrisome.

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He called for a downward review, stating that Nigeria was too fragile to service debts at that high rate, given that the nation was still facing the COVID-19 challenges.

On the external and internal borrowing to service budget deficits, he posited: “Another source of concern is that the proposal before us has a deficit of N6.2 trillion and the government is proposing new borrowings to finance this deficit.

“What this implies is that the total public debt of Nigeria is expected to rise to N5 trillion in 2022 fiscal year. This is worrisome not only for today but generations unborn and the future of Nigeria.”

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He called on lawmakers to reduce the borrowing or the executive should assure the parliamentarians that the borrowing was production and not consumption.

He argued that it would be inappropriate to borrow and leave debt for generations yet unborn, stressing that if it’s put into production with expected income, there won’t be any concern.

READ ALSO: Mikel Obi Reveals Player Who Helped Him At Chelsea

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The lawmaker called for deliberate funding of power and road infrastructure, saying: “While we put the money borrowed to infrastructure three clear things come to mind. We have looked at security. We need to invest in power. Let us borrow to invest in power and roads. We have road challenges across the country. Let me use for instance Mr. Speaker, the Calabar-Itu road that area is being cut-off.

“People spend 8 hours on the road. And we have seen something less than a billion naira allotted to that road in the different lots that have been given. That is quite inadequate. We have to invest in our roads and in our public transportation.”

House Minority leader, Ndudi Elumelu, spoke on the high rate of debt servicing, noting that the nation can’t afford such at this time.

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(DAILY POST)

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Out-of-school: Bauchi Education Ministry Takes ‘Back To School’ Campaign To Markets

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The Bauchi State Ministry of Education has launched a sensitization campaign on the importance of education across selected market places in the state.

The campaign aims to encourage school enrolment and showcase the infrastructural facilities provided by the Bauchi state government to ensure a conducive environment for learning and teaching in the state.

Speaking during the flag off of the campaign at Gadan-Maiwa Community, Dr. Mohammed Lawal, the state’s Commissioner for Education, emphasized that the marketplaces are ideal locations to promote education, as it is a hub of activity where people gather to buy and sell.

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READ ALSO:AGILE Leads 200 Girls On Road Walk To Create Awareness In Bauchi

He highlighted the various infrastructural facilities provided by the government, which he said included the mega schools, provision of qualified teachers, and educational materials to woo parents to enroll their wards into school.

The Commissioner noted that the state has made significant progress in reducing the number of out-of-school children.

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Lawal stated that the government has implemented a Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme to support the education of girl children, which he said, has recorded significant success.

READ ALSO:Bauchi Begins Production Of Exercise Books, Chalks For Schools

He therefore urged parents to take advantage of the government’s efforts and send their children to school.

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The commissioner also commended Governor Bala Mohammed for his commitment to education and reducing the number of out-of-school children in the state.

On their part, the village head of Gadan-Maiwa, Safiyanu Ahmed, and the Chairman of Gadan-Maiwa motor Park, Alhaji Adamu Abubakar, lauded the government’s initiative and urged parents to support the effort.

The duo also appealed for more teachers to be employed to improve education in the state.

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How My Fiancée kept Me From Temptations – Singer Spyro

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Nigerian singer, Oludipe Oluwasanmi David, popularly known as Spyro, has revealed that his fiancée, Janet Atom, keeps him him grounded and away from temptations.

The ‘Who’s Your Guy’ crooner shared that before meeting his fiancée he was “tempted” by ladies, especially in Lekki.

Hailing his fiancée as his “Jesus baddie,” he appreciated her for changing his life.

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READ ALSO:Drama In Abuja Hotel As BBNaija Star, Phyna Creates Scene Over alleged N200,000 Dispute [VIDEO]

The singer captioned a picture of his fiancée via Instagram; “Eiii God! My very own Jesus baddie @_callme_njure.

“Thank you again for saving me from Lekki girls o, na me know wettin my eyes see.”

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Recall that Spyro recently engaged Janet Atom. He disclosed that he met her at a nightclub while announcing their engagement in September.

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Drama In Abuja Hotel As BBNaija Star, Phyna Creates Scene Over alleged N200,000 Dispute [VIDEO]

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Former Big Brother Naija winner, Ijeoma Josephina Otabor, popularly known as Phyna, was reportedly involved in a heated altercation at a hotel in Abuja following an alleged N200,000 disagreement.

According to eyewitness accounts, the confrontation began in the early hours of Tuesday inside Phyna’s hotel room in Abuja, before spilling into the lobby, attracting the attention of guests and staff.

Sources claimed the dispute stemmed from an unsettled financial issue involving N200,000, which quickly escalated into a shouting match.

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The argument reportedly intensified when neither party was willing to back down, leading to pushing and chaos within the hotel premises.

READ ALSO:JUST IN: BBNaija Season 7 Winner, Phyna, Loses Sister, Ruth Otabor After Accident

Eyewitnesses further alleged that the situation worsened after others connected to the individuals involved joined the confrontation, turning the verbal exchange into a physical clash.

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Security personnel and police officers were eventually called in to restore order, using teargas to disperse the crowd.

The incident comes shortly after Phyna returned to the public eye following a brief break to mourn the death of her sister, who died in an accident involving a Dangote truck.

Watch video:

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