The member representing Pankshin, Kanke, and Kanam Federal Constituency of Plateau State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Yusuf Gagdi, has given reasons President Bola Tinubu slashed the ₦1 billion constituency project allocation for each federal lawmaker to N500 million.
Making the revelation in a viral video circulating on social media, Gagdi, cited funding challenges in the 3025 budget for the President’s action.
In the video, Gagdi was seen explaining to a group of people that contrary to public perception, federal lawmakers do not personally receive constituency project funds.
He said, “Our parliamentary order differs from that of the State Assembly because no federal legislator receives constituency project funds.”
“The only thing we receive is a ₦1 billion envelope for constituency projects that is shared among all the legislators from a States.”
The lawmaker further broke down the distribution pattern, noting that the amount varies from State to State depending on the number of federal lawmakers.
He said, “For instance, in Kano, the ₦1 billion envelope is shared among 27 legislators. In Plateau, we are only eight members, so each of us gets ₦125 million worth of projects.”
“As a legislator, I am required to bring projects that will be funded up to that amount.”
Gagdi emphasized that any other developmental projects seen in constituencies were often the result of lobbying ministries and agencies for additional interventions.
He said, “I have never received constituency projects worth more than ₦125 million until this year when the President increased the intervention from ₦125 million to ₦1 billion per House member.”
“Senators were allocated ₦2 billion worth of constituency projects each.”
Gagdi disclosed that despite the passage of the 2025 Appropriation Act, no capital project funds had been released to either the Executive or the National Assembly as of yet.
He said, “It was only last week that Mr. President reached out to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, saying that the 2025 budget cannot be funded.”
“Then Mr. President reduced our constituency intervention project from ₦1 billion to ₦500 million.