Reps kick as Presidency budgets N60m for grass-cutting in N’East

Members of the House of Representatives expressed shock, on Tuesday, that the Presidential Committee on North-East Initiative budgeted N60m to cut grasses this year in communities ravaged by the Boko Haram insurgents.



 The N60m in the 2017 budget of PCNI is to cover contracts to cut “shrubs, grasses and trees” along the Maiduguri-Mama Road alone.

 Lawmakers picked out the figure when the PCNI appeared before the House Committee on Internally Displaced Persons to defend its N45bn on humanitarian assistance, rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced villagers.

 The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Sani Zoro, and other members expressed shock over the allocation.
”
A lawmaker from Adamawa State, Mr. Adamu Kamale, observed that the N45bn was inadequate.

 He said it was more disturbing, however, that N8.4bn out of the money was budgeted for military operations.

 Kamale, who is from the Madagali Local Government Area, an area frequently attacked by insurgents, argued that there was no justification for the N8.4bn going to the military.

 He added, “The PCNI is not a military agency. This N8.4bn should be converted to rehabilitation of burnt houses and schools.

 The Vice-Chairman of the PCNI, Mr. Tijjani Tumsah, however, explained  that the budget was planned after due consultations with the military.

 “Security remains a major issue in rehabilitation. There are mines everywhere. The military will have to go in there to remove them,” he added.

However, members insisted that they were not satisfied. They stood down the budget until they had been availed with enough details on how it would be implemented.

EDITED FROM THE PUNCH