APC has borrowed $11trn in 3 years - Melaye
- The Buhari-led APC federal government has been chided by Senator Dino Melaye for borrowing more in 3 years, than the previous PDP government did in 16 years
- The Kogi senator said while the current ruling party has already borrowed $11 trillion, the previous PDP government borrowed only $6 trillion in the 16 years it was in power
- He urged President Buhari to rescind his decision on the Peace Corps bill; stressing that the Senate would veto him if he fails to pass the bill
Senator Dino Melaye (APC-Kogi) has called out his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the huge amount of money it has borrowed in three years of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, NAN reports.
Legit.ng gathers that he made the statement during plenary on Wednesday, March 7, as he called a Point-of-Order on the Peace Corps bill currently before the president for assent.
He stated: "Without fear or favour, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in 16 years, borrowed N6 trillion and this government in three years, has borrowed N11 trillion but there is no specific programme that will empower the youth.
''Also, N500 billion was earmarked for the social investment programme of the federal government but we have not seen any impact.
''If the Peace Corps is given an opportunity to exist, thousands will be employed and this will help to fight unemployment in this country.
''We may need to write president to review his position if not we have the power on behalf of the Nigerian youths who voted us to veto him so that people will become the ultimate beneficiaries of this bill. The youth of this country must be given priority and they must be respected."
The senator urged the president to review his position in withholding assent on the bill to establish the Peace Corps of Nigeria. Relying on the Senate rules, Melaye urged the Senate to revisit the bill with a view to veto the president if he failed to rescind his rejection of the bill.
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President Buhari had cited duplication of duty and funding challenges in declining assent to the Nigerian Peace Corps (Establishment) bill, recently passed by the National Assembly.
However, Melaye said that the bill should be given priority by Buhari. He said: "The same thing happened when the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was to be established; there was also the same complaint that there was no money and all of that.
''But today we can see the advantages of the civil defence and how they have helped in safeguarding the government infrastructure.
“About 5.5 billion dollars was borrowed from euro bond; what part of it will the youths of this country benefit from. About one billion dollars is to be spent on security and how does this affect the youth of this country."
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that a presidential aspirant under the NCP, Thomas Ikugbese, has urged President Buhari to reconsider signing of Peace Corps of Nigeria bill into law.
The non-signing of the Peace Corps of Nigeria bill by the president was generating ripples among stakeholders especially youths in Ondo state.
EXCLUSIVE: Be patient with President Buhari, Femi Adesina tells Nigerians on Legit.ng TV:
Source: Legit.ng
