OndoReporter | Why we failed to pass budget — NASS

OndoReporter | Why we failed to pass budget — NASS

AMIDST fresh controversy over the
passage of 2016 Appropriation Bill, the two
houses of the National Assembly yesterday
reneged on their assurances that the 2016
budget would be laid on Thursday, as it was
neither laid nor mentioned on the Order Paper.
They also denied that their inability to table
the budget was due to fresh flaws detected in
some expenditure lines and entries amounting
to over N37 billion.

But the Ministry of Budget and National
Planning, yesterday, distanced itself from the
alleged fresh flaws in the budget, expressing
shock at attempts to raise fresh controversies
about the budget.

The two chambers, however, explained that the
postponement was to enable the National
Assembly to be more thorough with the
document to ensure that all figures were
reconciled to make the budget implementable.
However, a source close to the National
Assembly told Vanguard that the budget was
ready to be laid and passed on Wednesday but
was stepped down due to the political
differences between the legislature and the
executive.

This position was, however, refuted by the
joint committees of the two houses on Media
and Public Affairs, which said the budget
would be ready to be laid and passed next
week ahead of Easter break.



Recall that the joint Committees on
Appropriations, led by Senator Danjuma Goje
and Rep Abdulmumin Jibrin, had specifically
announced that the budget would be laid on
both Houses on March 16 and passed on
March 17.

But as both chambers could not keep to the
dates, Chairman, House Committee on Media
and Public Affairs, Rep Abdulrasak Namdas, on
Wednesday, told Vanguard that the budget
would be laid yesterday to prepare for its
passage next week.

Vanguard was told by a source close to the
Appropriations Committees that the budget
was ready as at the Wednesday, and that it
was supposed to be laid but was not done due
to some unresolved issues.

Addressing journalists yesterday, Chairman,
Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs,
Senator Abdullahi Sabi and his House of
Representatives counterpart, Namdas,
maintained that barring any last minutes
hitches, the budget will be passed next week.
Senator Sabi said, “You will recall we promised
Nigerians that by today 17th March
(yesterday), we will be able to pass the 2016
appropriation. Yesterday (Wednesday) I also
confirmed to you that today (yesterday) that
same appropriation bill will be laid, barring any
last minute technical hitches or otherwise.
“We are here to let you know that as of today
(yesterday), we are unable to lay the 2016
appropriation bill and thus we are hoping next
week that process will be completed.’’

Corroborating his position, Namdas said: “We
all know that the 2016 appropriation bill is one
of the most important bills that we have in the
National Assembly. Therefore, we can not
afford to make any mistake.

“In this 8th Assembly, this is the first
appropriation bill we are working on. We have
realised that it is better we do things that will
be applauded by the entire country than to
rush and make some mistakes that will not be
in our interest.’’

On the alleged discovery of padding, he said,
“Let me also reiterate that as official
spokesmen of the two chambers, we are not
here to corroborate rumours, neither are we
here to lend credence to rumours.

No fresh N37bn flaws in budget

The Ministry of Budget and National Planning,
yesterday, distanced itself from the alleged
fresh flaws in the 2016 Budget with a total
value of over N37 billion.

The ministry described as a shocking the
attempt to raise fresh controversy over the
fiscal document after the legislature and the
executive had met and harmonised the
document ready for its passage into law.

A top official of the Budget and National
Planning Ministry said that they were shocked
to hear of the ‘discovery’ of new items
amounting to N37 billion in the budget, which
had been with the National Assembly since
last year.

The official, who spoke in anonymity,
wondered how the ‘new items’ crept into the
budget document while still in the custody of
the NASS.

Private sector reacts

In his reaction, Dr. Uju Ogubunka, President,
Bank Customers Association of Nigeria, said: “
I am not surprised. More will be discovered or
covered as long as quick deterrent action is
not taken against those confirmed to have
been involved.’’

Dr. Femi Egbesola, President, Association of
Small Business Operators of Nigeria, said “It
saddens us that even after further scrutiny as
ordered by the President; there still exist such
huge error. This development is not only highly
embarrassing but also indicative of the rot
that has been going on for years with the tax
payers monies called corruption.’’