A federal lawmaker, Hon. Isa Mohammed Anka representing Anka/Talata Mafara Federal Constituency of Zamfara state has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ensuring that the National Assembly members were fully involved in the preparation of the 2024 budget in order to ensure that the interests of their people are adequately represented
Mohammed Anka stated this in an exclusive chat with newsmen in Abuja recently.
According to him: “Ever since l was a civil servant, which l served for over 35 years before l retiring as a Permanent Secretary, this is the first time l have seen a budget process adopt the bottoms up approach. This means that the budget is being compiled from the grassroots with crucial inputs from the people directly affected by it.
“From the word go, President Bola Tinubu ensured that the parliamentarians, that is, the National Assembly members, were fully involved in the budgetary process to ensure its ultimate success.
“As we represent the people, Mr President gave us a free hand in the budgetary process and we have in turn consulted extensively with our people to ensure that their needs and desires are adequately captured in this 2024 budget. The previous practice before now was for some people to sit down in an office, prepare and pass the budget without inputs from those that matter, or the grassroots.
” But this budget is a different ballgame as President Tinubu has stressed that the budget can not be passed without proper scrutiny and input from the National Assembly who represent the people. We heartily commend Mr President for this welcome development.”
Hon. Isa Mohammed Anka also revealed that education, security and Agriculture form the key planks of his focus in the 10th National Assembly: “Actually my legislative agenda for my constituents are many but l normally confine them to my campaign promises. Since l know my people very well, having interacted with them over the years, the priority areas of my legislative agenda are tailored to meet their urgent needs and desires. That is why l have restricted my agenda to two specifics: education and security. Education is obviously the first choice because it has uplifted many people from the rural areas, including my humble self, to positions of responsibility.
“Due to the existing circumstances, security is the second top priority because the moment our area is secured it will have a multiplier effect on all economic activities not only in my constituency but in other nearby areas as well. Like l keep on stressing even during house plenaries, the most important palliative is security. When you give someone in the village food, provisions, or money, if the area is not secure, how is he going to utilise or enjoy what has been given? So education and security are my top priorities, followed by agriculture, which is our pride.
“As our motto implies, farming is the pride of Zamfara State, but as l am talking to you, we hardly carry out any farming activities in the state. You can farm extensively, but when you get to the last stage, you have to abandon it because of the problem of insecurity, which is rampant in many parts of the state. In that order, education, security, and agriculture are my priority agenda, and l am sure that with the various House Committees l belong to, we will be able to achieve the objectives of my agenda.
” I belong to the House Committees on Appropriation, Power, NDDC, and Constituency Outreach, among others. All the commitees are connected to the projects l have included in the budget and when it comes to the execution stage, the House Commitee on Constituency Outreach will ensure that my constituency projects and programs are implemented to the letter. I have also observed that the indices used in preparing the 2024 budget are very reasonable, realistic and achievable and l duly assure my people that we will credibly represent them and enact effective laws that will take them to the next level in the crucial scheme of things. “
