By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, has explained to the National Assembly why he proposed in the 2017 budget an amount of money for diaspora matters.
Addressing the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora in Abuja, the Minister noted that the provision is to cater for Nigerians living abroad.
According to Mr Adewole, who spoke with newsmen after the budget defence, the lawmakers invited him to ascertain the commitment of the health sector towards the welfare and protection of Nigerians abroad.
He described the exercise as commendable as a platform for its Ministry to re-priotise its needs and focus for the benefit of Nigerians in the diaspora.
In her remarks, Chairperson of the Committee, Mrs. Rita Oji, urged the health ministry to make maximum use of the instrumentality of the National Assembly which is invested with the power of appropriation during budget planning for the benefit of Nigerians.
She said that her committee was poised to assist concerned Ministries come up with good budget lines that would give preference to the needs and yearnings of Nigerians wherever they live.