JOS – A lawmaker representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives, Hon Musa Agah, has raised the alarm that said constituency was not captured in the 2022 budget following the demise of his predecessor one year ago.
He noted that the gesture has deprived his constituency of some developmental projects which would have improved the living condition of the people.
Hon. Agah disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing in Jos and said the non-inclusion of the constituency in the budget constitutes a serious constraint for him, who assumed office barely three months ago.
“As a legislator, we are constitutionally saddled with three core responsibilities; to represent, make laws and oversight. We are not like the executive that controls votes.
“I am aware of the enormity of the expectations of my people from me; my people are expecting me to deliver. Certain projects that I’m expected to do based on the peculiar nature of my constituency, that are supposed to be reflected in the budget, only for me to discover that the 2022 budget that was earlier passed and accented to by the President hadn’t the input of this great constituency and that I consider as a big predicament on my part.
“My constituents have been demanding for water supply, access road, and other social amenities among others, but as I speak, you can verify. I went at a time, the then occupant had died, which took close to a year before the bye-election was conducted; so our non-inclusion in the budget is already a constraint on my part,” he explained.
Hon. Agah said he has appealed the tribunal judgment that nullified his election and said he is still the member representing Jos North/Bassa Federal Constituency.
He described his victory at the February 26 bye-election as God’s mandate freely given to him by the people and said nobody can fight God and win.
Recall that the National and States Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Jos on September 2, 2022, nullified Agah’s election.
The tribunal held that Agah was not validly nominated by his party, PDP for the by-election conducted on February 26, 2022.
The legislator told his constituents not to panic, stating that his mandate remains intact having appealed against the judgment.
He assured them of determination and commitment to deliver dividends of democracy as their representative.
“Within the short time I have been in the National Assembly, I have sponsored two bills.
“A bill to upgrade the Cottage Hospital in Bassa to Federal Medical Centre and bill to upgrade Relevant Technology Centre to Federal College of Education Technical.
“Already, one of the bills has passed second reading and I am optimistic that both of them will sail through,” he said.
The lawmaker further assured the people that he would continue to do his best within his strength and resources to give them effective representation in the Green Chamber.
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