President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the upward review of constituency project funds for federal lawmakers from ₦200 million to ₦1 billion, to accelerate grassroots development across the country.
Hon. Bassey Akiba, member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, disclosed this while flagging off the second phase of his educational support programme in Calabar.
Akiba explained that the increment reflects the president’s recognition of the crucial role lawmakers play in delivering development to their people.
“When we came in, our constituency fund was ₦200m. With the wisdom of the president and his understanding that House members represent constituencies, he magnanimously increased it to one billion naira,” he said.
The lawmaker stressed that the funds are not paid directly to members but programmed within the budget as envelopes from which lawmakers select projects that meet the needs of their constituencies.
Akiba revealed that 70 percent of his allocation for this year—about ₦700m—has been devoted to education. This, he said, will cover scholarships, school construction and renovation, as well as the provision of teaching and learning materials.
So far, over 2,000 students have benefited from scholarships and related interventions under his education support programme in just two years of his tenure.
The Obonganwan of Nsidung, Barbara James, hailed the intervention, noting that investment in education secures the future of every community.
“Every child has the right to education, and it is our collective responsibility to uphold and enforce that right,” she stated.
Cross River State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Stephen Odey represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Francis Adebe Oyije commended the initiative, describing education as a “capital-intensive investment” that government alone cannot shoulder.
He urged other stakeholders to emulate Akiba’s effort by supporting government’s drive to strengthen education in the state.
Akiba added that the constituency funds would also be applied to livelihood empowerment and healthcare, in line with his three-pronged mandate to uplift families, secure better health, and expand access to quality education.
