Sen. Oseni to FG: Encourage PPP instead of borrowing

Senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, Senator Oseni Yakubu, urged the Federal Government to encourage Public Private Partnership (PPP) in order to reduce borrowing in the country.

Sen. Useni made the call during the debate on the 2021 budget in the upper chamber on Thursday.

He opined that instead of borrowing, it is better make do with the available resources.

“What is the essence of borrowing if every year we borrow to fund budget and at the end of the day, only 50% of the budget is implemented. Why not make do with what we have?”, he asked.

“If you take a look at some elements of the budget, we borrow and we are servicing debts. Borrowing is not the problem but pay back time is.

“My candid advise to the Federal Government is that we should encourage PPP instead of borrowing. Let the people we are borrowing from invest in the country. When they invest, it will be on Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis”, he stated.

In another contribution on Abuja-Lokoja road, the lawmaker mentioned that the road contract has been awarded over a decade ago and little or nothing has been done since then.

“The case is that the standard of the little they are doing is low compared to the Abuja-Kaduna road”, he stated.

Sen. Useni is of the opinion that Committees of Works and Housing should be mandated to monitor the project in order to ensure that funds appropriated is judiciously used and also ensure that the contractors deliver a quality job.