Seriake Dickson: Tinubu’s government distracted by 2027… capital budget unimplemented

Seriake Dickson, senator representing Bayelsa west, says the federal government under President Bola Tinubu is distracted by political activities ahead of the 2027 elections, while the capital component of the 2024 budget remains largely unimplemented.

Speaking on the floor of the senate on Tuesday, Dickson said governance has “grounded” while Nigerians are not benefitting from the budget passed by the national assembly.

“Government has grounded, that’s what it means,” the lawmaker said.

“Contractors who have done their jobs and committed their resources cannot be paid. The benefits of the budget that we all took time to work on and passed have not gotten to the people.”

He said while the recurrent component of the budget — covering salaries and administrative costs — has been fully disbursed, the capital portion, which directly affects ordinary Nigerians, remains untouched.

“The component that has not been released, that is still stagnant, nothing is moving forward, is the real one that goes to the people of Nigeria — for the development of our country, for all the people that we represent, so it’s a very sad situation,” Dickson said.

The senator said there have even been reports of protests by frustrated contractors, who have not been paid despite completing their projects.

“You recall that some weeks back, contractors, out of frustration and anger, I hear, even staged demonstrations. A number of you on this floor may be familiar with that,” he said.

‘APPROPRIATION CHAIR FAILED TO JUSTIFY EXTENSION’

Dickson spoke during a debate on a motion sponsored by Solomon Adeola, senator representing Ogun west and chairman of the senate committee on appropriation, which sought to extend the capital budget implementation timeline to December 31, 2025.

While supporting the extension, Dickson said no compelling reason had been given for the delay in implementation of the budget.

“Unlike other motions and debates he (Adeola) has led, for which we have always supported — even from this isle — the chairman today has not given compelling reasons why this extension has become necessary,” he said.

“I don’t want to hazard any guess, but from this aisle, you all know what is happening. Maybe there is too much preoccupation with politics and 2027.

“Maybe there is too much concentration on receiving defectors all across the country, and people are not looking at the big picture.”

He said the work of government — both at the legislative and executive levels — is being neglected.

“The business of the Nigerian people, for which we were all elected — all of us and the president of the Federal Republic — is not moving forward,” he said.

‘BUDGET DELAY NOT DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS’

Dickson said he agreed with suggestions that the failure to implement the capital budget should be investigated.

“All of us supported the withdrawal of fuel subsidies, meaning that there is even more money,” he said.

“State governments and local governments are getting far more money — which is good. So, the availability of money is not the challenge.

“The reason the capital component of the budget has not moved forward for the benefit of Nigerians is not because there is no money.”

He urged the senate to mandate a joint inquiry by the appropriation and finance committees to determine the cause of the delay and prevent a recurrence.

“As a matter of fact, both committees, led by the appropriation committee and perhaps the committee on finance as well, should jointly, within the next one week, undertake an inquiry and report back to us why this has happened. So that we don’t have this happening again,” he said.

Earlier, Yahaya Abdullahi, senator representing Kebbi north, said the federal government’s handling of the 2024 budget has “eroded” public trust.

Abdullahi said despite the national assembly’s efforts to alert the ministry of finance and other relevant agencies, no meaningful change has occurred.

“I think the leadership of the national assembly should engage, even if it means going to the Mr President because the country is financially bleeding,” he said.

“People are losing confidence in the capacity of the government to deliver on its own projects and promises.”