By Philomina Brando
Honorable Richard Harris Okonkwo, representing Idemili South and North Federal Constituency of Anambra State, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for allocating N3.5 trillion to education in the 2025 budget proposal. Okonkwo believes this investment will significantly improve the standard of education in Nigeria.
Okonkwo also commended President Tinubu for prioritizing critical sectors such as health, security, and infrastructure. He acknowledged that Nigeria still faces challenges but expressed optimism that the country will overcome them. “Though we are not yet there as a country, but I believe that we shall get there,” Okonkwo said.
Regarding the N47.96 trillion budget proposal, Okonkwo noted that Nigeria’s budget is relatively small compared to other countries.
. “We When you compare our budget to that of other countries, you see that we are just scratching the surface. Countries in the Western world, especially with large populations, even in the southern Asian areas, you see that they are running a budget of hundreds of billions of dollars,” he said.
Okonkwo assured that the parliament will thoroughly review the budget defense and conduct oversight to ensure the effective implementation of the 2025 budget. The proposed budget, titled “The Budget of Restoration,” aims to address national priorities, rebuild the economy, and secure Nigeria’s future.
Key allocations in the budget include N4.91 trillion for Defence and Security, N4.06 trillion for Infrastructure, and N2.48 trillion for Health.