BENIN CITY – The chairman Senate Committee on Finance, senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan has described the proposed 5000.00 naira for forty million Nigerians as rumour.

Senator Olamilekan stated this during the presentation of 2022 budget report before the committee on Appropriations in Abuja.

Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan said the budget appropriated for the Ministry of Finance has fallen below standard and needed to be reviewed.

While reacting to the question asked about the proposal made by the Federal Government on the effect of fuel subsidy removal where 5,000.00 naira for forty million Nigerians is to be expended, senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan said as chairman Senate Committee on Finance, he has not received any official communication to that effect.

He said the 2022 budget does not contain such a proposal and wondered how the policy would be implemented.

He also said that, he does not know how the beneficiaries would be selected as well as asking where the 2.4 billion naira would be sourced from.

The chairman noted that, the said proposal is still at the level of rumour, but however hopes when a communication would be sent to the Senate.

Also presenting his committee’s report on power, senator Gabriel Suswam said the 2022 budget was aimed addressing some challenges in the power sector.

Senator Suswam said he was worried with the poor electricity supply in the country looking at the funds expended on the sector.

The senator expressed dissatisfaction that Nigerians are not getting the value of their money in the power sector.

He disclosed that the current Minister of power is doing a lot since he assumed office while assuring Nigerians of constant electricity supply by the first half of next year.

On the Mambila power project, senator Gabriel Suswam said all litigations associated to the project have been settled and that the Chinese are expected to commence work.

Senator Gabriel Suswam said that already the ministry of power has begun to carry out minor road construction to the site.