Senator representing Taraba Southern Senatorial District, Emmanuel Bwacha has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to judiciously utilise the proposed $29.6 billion loan to revamp the nation’s economy.
Bwacha, who is the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, gave the advice on Monday while speaking to newsmen in his Mararaba-Baisa home town in Donga Local Government Area of Taraba.
President Buhari had requested the Senate to grant his plan to borrow $29.6 billion to fund the 2020 budget.
Senator Bwacha said that there was nothing wrong with borrowing, as even advanced democracies do borrow.
He, however, said that the funds must be channelled in proper areas that could revamp the economy rather than ending up in the pockets of few individuals.
The Deputy Minority Leader urged Buhari to do more in the area of anti-corruption crusade to be able to convince Nigerians that he is really fighting corruption.
“The planned borrowing of $29.6 by the executive is not out of place because, even the advanced economies do borrow hence governance must not be stagnated due to lack of funds.
“There is no problem with borrowing especially when there is no money to address economic challenges.
“It will turn suicidal if the funds are not properly utilised especially in revamping the economy and rather ending in the pockets of few individuals.
“There should be sincerity of purpose by the executive in utilisation of borrowed funds so as the future of children will not be mortgaged.
“I urge President Buhari to do more in the area of fight against corruption to convince Nigeria that he is serious about the anti-corruption campaign.
“To me, I support the fight against corruption ab initio because sending corrupt public officers to jail is a massage to those occupying public offices that they will one day follow suit if they are found wonting,” Bwacha said.
The Senator commended the armed forces for decimating the killer herdsmen killing of innocent people.
He noted that the menace of kidnappings and banditry was still worrisome as their activities were still on the increase.
Bwacha urged the Nigerian Police to give more attention to community policing, which he said would enhance security of local communities, as criminals could easily be identified through community policing.
The Deputy Minority Leader decried inadequate funding of the police, but assured that plans were on the way to improve funding of the police.
He assured the people of his senatorial district that he would continue to stand by them and provide effective legislation that would touch the lives of his constituents.
The senator announced that he had concluded arrangement to present scholarship award to 268 students in his constituency.
He said that the scholarship would go a long way in boosting education in his constituency.
According to him, I started giving scholarship to my constituents’ right from 2003 and till date I have not received.
“They have given me this mandate and I must in turn pay back to the society for choosing me to represent them,” He added.
