From Our Correspondent
Senator Ita Enang, a former lawmaker in the 7th National Assembly, has raised concerns that modest allocations in the 2025 budget could hinder President Bola Tinubu's ability to showcase significant projects during his reelection campaign in 2027.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Inside Sources with Laolu Akande, Enang criticized the ₦49.7 trillion 2025 budget proposal presented by President Tinubu to the National Assembly on December 18, 2024.
He described the allocations as insufficient for completing key projects, warning that this could undermine Tinubu’s campaign efforts.
“I have read the budget and have gone through almost all the sectors. It is not reflective and is incapable of giving Mr. President projects to commission, which he can be proud of in 2026,” Enang said.
Lawmakers are set to reconvene on February 4, 2025, to deliberate on the budget after ministries, departments, and agencies defend the proposal.
Enang, who previously served as Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters, highlighted critical issues such as inadequate revenue generation, poor mobilization, and insufficient allocations to major sectors.
He specifically pointed to projects like the Calabar-Ikot Ekpene, Lagos-Ibadan, Abuja-Lokoja-Benin, and Abuja-Kaduna highways, arguing that the allocated funds are insufficient for their timely completion.
“By the end of 2025, the president is supposed to commission those projects, but what will he commission if they remain uncompleted?” he asked.
The senator advised the president’s team to adopt a more strategic approach to budgeting by prioritizing key projects and setting realistic milestones.
He suggested that the Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, and the president take a sector-by-sector review of the budget to identify critical deliverables in areas such as solid minerals, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.
“If we don’t do this, the president and the APC will be relying on state projects to justify their performance during the next election,” Enang warned.
He concluded by urging the administration to align its budget priorities with achievable targets, ensuring that significant projects are completed and ready for commissioning before the next electoral campaign.
