By Mercy Adewunmi
In a recent interview, Senator Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central in the 10th Senate, expressed his support for President Tinubu’s decision to allocate significant funds to the agricultural sector in a bid to enhance local food production and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported food. Senator Aliero commended the President’s efforts to boost agriculture, believing it will have a positive impact on the country’s economy and food security.
Describing the budget as a “budget of consolidation,” Senator Aliero also lauded the substantial allocation to the education sector, aligning with President Tinubu’s focus on human resources development for national progress. However, he raised concerns about the large allocation for debt servicing in the budget, questioning its sustainability in light of Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Senator Aliero acknowledged the need for prioritizing education and agricultural development, emphasizing the importance of these sectors for national growth. He also praised the allocation for defense in the budget, viewing it as a positive initiative in enhancing national security.
“President Tinubu has shown strong leadership by initiating a major agricultural reform that will support farmers and boost agricultural production across the country.
“Regarding education, he emphasized human resources. Human resources are the key to the future. No nation can afford to ignore the educational sector. If you want to grow and develop your country, you must prioritize education.
“Every developed country prioritized education, which is why they succeeded and progressed. You cannot excel or develop unless you have a well-focused educational system. A large portion of the budget is allocated to the educational sector, which I believe is appropriate.
“Truly speaking, if we go by what he said, it is a budget of consolidation. We are talking about security, and what we have achieved so far in this area is commendable.
“We have declared Boko Haram defeated, although we still have a significant number of bandits in the northwest and north-central regions.
“However, a large portion of the budget is devoted to defense, which falls under security. I think this is a very good initiative and a very good proposal.
“He also talked about agriculture. We need to improve our protection in this sector. A large part of the budget is dedicated to the procurement of agricultural inputs and machinery. This is a very good approach because Nigeria is an agricultural country.
“We must do everything we can to increase production. It is only when we produce enough food to feed ourselves and even export that we will be able to save our foreign exchange. We have no business importing food—I have said this repeatedly. All we need is support, and this support can only come from leadership.”- he said.
Despite potential delays in passing the budget due to the extension of the 2024 budget, Senator Aliero expressed optimism that the 2025 budget cycle would proceed as planned, running from January to December. He emphasized the importance of timely budget implementation for effective utilization of allocated funds.
