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Tag: 2016 Budget

  • Budget padding: Don’t judge Dogara, others – Gbajabiamila

    Budget padding: Don’t judge Dogara, others – Gbajabiamila

    ….Denies working against Speaker

    The leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila Monday said fellow lawmakers and by extension all Nigerians, should not judge the Speaker of the House of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and three other principal officers accused of “insertions” of billions into the 2016 budget.

    Gbajabiamila made the appeal Monday in a statement to his colleagues made available to National Assembly reporters.

    “Yes, allegations have been made but I strongly believe judgment should not be passed based on allegations. We operate a constitutional democracy and we must at all times submit to its dictates and ethos. All parties are innocent until otherwise proven. This should be our guide. I plead with all members. The mudslinging must stop.

    The lawmaker also denied that he is working against the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara, over the allegations of budget padding leveled against him by the former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

    A text message making the rounds amongst members of the House alleged that Gbajabiamila is working with the former Appropriation Chairman to remove Dogara, but the House Leader in a statement yesterday said the allegation is far from the truth.

    He further states: “Since the budget controversy that engulfed the House  about a week ago, I have pointedly maintained a dignified silence. I did this for the sake of the institution I represent and which I have labored hard to grow and protect, knowing that whatever I say could be impactful both within the House and outside it.

    “I was determined to keep in place the glue that holds an otherwise
    O fragmented House, protect its integrity and at same time avoid eroding the little confidence and vestiges of hope Nigerians have in us.

    “Unfortunately, the controversy has now taken a different turn following the rather strange if not comical text making the rounds amongst members about my complicity in this rather sordid matter.   I am being dragged into an arena I tried very hard to stay out of only for the good of the House.

    “The Speakership election has come and gone. The election was divisive and acrimonious but I have since worked hard to heal the wounds some of which still fester amongst members on both sides. It is my responsibility to bring all tendencies in a House I lead together and I have worked well with the Speaker and all other Principal officers in a bi partisan manner and in the interest of the institution and the country.

    “This text message, which desperately seeks to finger me in some macabre plot to destabilize the House is a throw-back and echoes our dark post Speakership election history. The resurfacing or resurgence of the faceless text messengers will not help us as a House and let me quickly add that it will fail.

    “My strongest critics and biggest political adversaries in the House cannot deny the fact that my commitment has always been to strengthen the legislature and its processes and our democracy as a whole. I consider everyone a friend and colleague and urge that as we collectively work towards a stronger legislature and strive to deepen our democracy, we do not pull back the hands of the clock nor lose sight of the enormous responsibility placed upon us by providence as members of a critical arm of government.”

    The House Leader however, admitted that the budget process needs to be reformed:

    “On the budget issue at hand, it is clear that our budget process needs radical reform and very quickly too,” he said.

  • Budget padding: Committee Chairman dares Jibrin

    Budget padding: Committee Chairman dares Jibrin

    One of the Chairmen of House of Representatives Committees alleged to have padded the 2016 budget with 2000 fictitious projects worth N284b, Zakari Mohammed has denied being involved in the scam.

    While challenging the former Chairman, Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin to make good his threat of petitioning anti-graft agencies, Mohammed noted that Jibrin is a sinking politician looking for who to drag down with him.

    Jibrin had alleged Mohammed, who is the Chairman, Committee on Basic Education and nine others of padding the budget with 2000 fictitious projects worth N284b.

    In a statement Monday, Mohammed explained that having known the kind of person Jibrin is, he (Mohammed) ensured that he avoided Jibrin and his antics during the 2016 budget preparation period.

    The Basic Education Committee Chairman also said he was unaware of padding in budget preparation for five years he has been the House of Representatives.

    The statement reads: “Ordinarily, I would have ignored his face-saving tweets but the fact that he is deceptively carrying many Nigerians along makes it imperative to protect my hard-earned integrity and about 10 years of unblemished career in as a political office holders.

    “Prior to joining politics, I had worked as a civil servant for 14 years with outstanding records. I cannot allow a desperado, who is also a gold digger, to rubbish my impeccable integrity.

    “I have not spoken or had personal contact with Jibrin since November 2015 because I have always had reservations on his conduct and over rated personality; he held every member in contempt and arrogated usurped powers to himself.

    “He was so overwhelmed by his ambition to drag me into his plot to the extent that he referred to me as the chairman of the House Committee on higher education because of his orchestrated mission against me.

    “I wish to place on record that throughout the period of consideration of the 2016 Appropriation Act, I did not meet or write Jibrin for assistance to include any item or project in my constituency not even when he sent Hon. Muktar Betera, chairman defence to some of us to write via our letter heads requesting for assistance from him.

    “Instead, I concentrated on my job as the Chairman of the House Committee on Basic Education. The proposals for Basic Education were easier in treating because the enabling Act of UBEC is explicit on how it should be funded. I want him to produce any of my write ups in my letter head to the public.

    “Our submission on the 2016 budget was a product of our committee’s relentless work, in conjunction with the Senate Committee on Basic Education.

    “I challenge Jibrin to point out the specific areas that our committee fell short of its duties.

    “I have no file with EFCC or its allied agency but the same cannot be said of the former Appropriation Committee chairman. Nigerians should therefore disregard his accusations because they are as a result of frustration of his removal.

    “As for Jibrin’s formal report to the EFCC, I am more than ready to appear before any agency or anywhere to prove my innocence. I have no skeletons in my cupboard.”

    On budget padding, Mohammed said it was a strange phenomenon, adding,  “What a sitting President brings to the National Assembly, according to Section 80(1) and (2) of the  1999 Constitution is an estimate which the Legislature is expected to consider and assist the Executive in reviewing appropriations for its plans and projects for the country for the fiscal year.

    “Jibrin should look elsewhere for his prey. I was a public servant first for 14yrs before taking political appointments  in 2002 as a Special Assistant, Commissioner for Sports and later Commissioner for Energy in Kwara State, including pioneering the first football academy in nigeria as chairman of the board and that of the state football team in my home state.my track records are clear and above board.

    “On getting to the National Assembly in 2011, I chaired the  sensitive media and public affairs committee and I was never found wanting in all aspects of my duties, financially or otherwise.

    “I went this far to let the sadistic Abdulmumin Jibrin know that as a student of government I have built a reputation on credible  slate without cutting corners. This assignment cannot be an exception because I have a family name and a lineage which is symbolized by diligence and  not riches at all costs.”

  • 2016 budget fallout: Reps Appropriation Chair, Abdulmumin resigns

    2016 budget fallout: Reps Appropriation Chair, Abdulmumin resigns

    …says: I did no wrong

    …..Replaced with Mustapha Dawaki

    The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin has resigned his position over the fallout of the 2016 budget appropriation.

    In a press briefing Wednesday, the lawmaker said he resigned after extensive consultations with his family members.

    Recall that in the wake of the passage of the 2016 budget, Jibrin was accused of allocating 20 projects worth N4.3 to himself without the consent of his committee members.

    A separate N40 billion worth of projects was also said to have been surreptitiously allocated to the leaderships of the Appropriations Committees of both chambers of the National Assembly which was allegedly shared without the consent or knowledge of other members.

    The budget was returned by the Executive for padding and had to be redone before President Muhammadu Buhari eventually assented to it sequel to a meeting of presidency with principal officers of the Senate and House of Representatives and the setting up of a 15-member harmonisation Committee to sort out grey areas.

    Members had called for the removal of Jibrin then as the Appropriation Committee Chair.

    But the lawmaker, who briefed in company of some members of his committee, said he has done no wrong in terms of the committee’s work on the 2016 budget. According to him, his resignation was a personal decision.

    Jibrin said his hands are clean, but promised to give details “of what transpired in the 2016 Appropriations”.

    The revelation, he said, “it was not to attack anybody but so that we can also learn collectively and see how we can move the system forward. But whether I like it or not, I was the Chairman of Appropriations and my signature was on all the documents even though I know that I am not at fault.

    “Of course we are all aware of a lot of issues that took place during the process of the 2016 budget. I have always maintained one position, that as the Chairman Appropriations, i did my very best. Until date, I have said that if anybody has anything that I have done that amounts to an abuse of my office, or amounts to an illegality, that it should be brought forward.

    “I’ve said it severally, that I can be reported to the authorities or the relevant arm of government, or the internal disciplinary measure of the House. Should take its course. And as it is until date, nobody has raised any issue against me.

    “And that has been the case even while I was Chairman Finance. For four years, I was chairman Finance and I executed my responsibility diligently and I left an unblemished record.”

    He said there were a lot of “obstacles here and there “during the 2016 budget appropriation.

    “Even if I’m not at fault, it’s only proper that I take the responsibility. I believe that the best thing I should do under the circumstances is to step aside so that the committee can move forward.”

    Earlier at plenary, the Speaker of the House, Hon. Yakubu Dogara had announced a replacement for Jibrin.

    Dogara said Jibrin has been replaced with Mustapha Dawaki Bala representing Kudu/Warawa federal constituency of Kano state.

    Dogara said: “He (Jibrin) met me and said he does not think he would continue as the committee chairman due to pressure of the work.”

    The Speaker therefore said the House leadership had taken a decision to replace him as the committee chairman.

    Jibrin who represents Bebeji/Kiru federal constituency of Kano State was the chairman of the committee on Finance in the 7th House of Representatives, and became the Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations in the 8th House under the leadership of Yakubu Dogara.

  • FG not meeting revenue targets – Udoma

    The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, on Thursday said the Federal Government has not been achieving the revenue targets set for revenue generating agencies.

    Udoma told the Senate Appropriations committee that the dwindling government’s revenue profile led the government to call for a meeting in Kano  to review the situation.

    The minister was invited by the Senate to give up date on the performance of the 2016 budget.

    Udoma also attributed low capital releases to low revenue inflow.

    He noted that for the first quarter, government was running at about 55 percent in terms of revenue expectations.

    He said, “There is a revenue meeting going on in Kano State hence I won’t be able to give adequate revenue breakdown because we are not with the document here.

    “That is why it is the expenditure figure that we will be able to give you. The Kano meeting was called to review revenue and the revenue situation because we are not achieving revenue targets which we set for the revenue generating agencies.

    “In personnel releases, the budget was N1, 723, 819, 398, 198 but what we released was N871, 459, 760, 939 which comes to about 50 percent.

    “This is the way it should be because we are already in July and we have gone six months which is half of the year.

    “For overhead, the budget is N218, 368, 364, 886 and we have released N52, 913, 047, 226 (25 percent).

    “The National Assembly gave us till May next year to carry out the capital expenditure and we still have 10 months of capital spending to do.”

  • Why FG can’t implement 2016 budget – SGF

    Why FG can’t implement 2016 budget – SGF

    The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir David Lawal, on Wednesday declared the Federal Government cannot fully implement the N6.06 trillion 2016 budget as passed by the National Assembly.

    Lawal told a joint Senate committee on Appropriations, Finance and Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions that the revenues of the government had dropped by 50 to 60 per cent contrary to projections.

    The SGF was invited by the Senate to explain his comment that the 2016 constituency projects as captured in the budget would not be implemented.

    He pointedly blamed the drop in Nigeria’s revenue on activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

    Lawal noted that the oil benchmark of $38 per barrel fixed by the Federal Government has been drastically dislocated.

    He added that the benchmark has been grossly affected by activities of militants in the Niger Delta.

    The SGF said, “The statement is correct. That is my statement, we cannot guarantee the implementation of constituency projects in the 2016 budget. As a government, constituency projects are championed by members of the National Assembly. Like the legislature, members of the executive are politicians who canvassed for votes.

    “Lawmakers are aware that oil barrels had dwindled to about 800,000 per day. This has led to the inability of government to finance the budget. It is the duty of government to prepare the minds of Nigerians ahead that there will be challenges in implementing the budget.

    “Government based its principle on zero budgeting this year. Funds will be released to finance key projects in line with the implementation plans of the government. I will explain why it will be hard for the government to implement the budget.

    “I spoke with the Minister of Budget this morning and I asked him the revenue base of the government. We are now receiving about 50 to 60 earnings from what we projected.”

    “Some Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) might find it impossible to implement projects appropriated in their budgets. We have to re-prioritize. I like us to understand that this is the background upon which I made that statement. “

  • Ministry to consult widely on budget – Udoma

    The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma, has said the ministry will embark on extensive consultation on the implementation of the 20l6 budget.

    Udoma said this while answering questions from journalists at the 2016 Annual Public Lecture of the Nigerian Economic Society (NES) in Abuja on Tuesday.

    “We already indicated that in terms of our medium term plan, we are going to have extensive consultations.

    “We are going to consult the National Assembly, civil society, organised interest groups and the general public because we want to make sure that the input of all Nigerians are captured in developing our plans.

    “ Some areas have been indicated that we could improve upon and so we will take all that into account as we move forward,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the minister as saying at the public lecture.

    Udoma explained that the strategic implementation plan was meant for the 2016 budget and the time frame would be the fiscal year of the budget.

  • FG to fast-track budget implementation – Osinbajo

    FG to fast-track budget implementation – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said efforts are being made to fast -track the procurement process to give the 2016 Budget implementation a speedy boost.

    He made the remark during a meeting with a delegation from the House of Representatives’ Committee on Privatization and Commercialization led by the Committee Chairman, Ahmed Yerima.

    Members of the committee had requested among other things that the Executive arm of government should inaugurate the National Council on Privatization in order to speed up privatization issues because government should not be engaged in the “business of doing business.”

    Osinbajo, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, assured the members of the committee that the present administration will ensure that the privatization process is undertaken diligently.

    He said the Presidency would work with the National Assembly to fast-track pending relevant bills including the Competition Bill to further clarify government’s economic direction for investors and other business interests.

  • 2016 Budget: Northcentral, FCT get lion’s share for capital projects

    The breakdown of the sharing of funds for the various regions in the country has shown that the Northcentral has got the lion’s share of N271.79 billion for the implementation of capital projects.

    Details of the capital allocation of the 2016 Appropriations Act signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari was contained in a document by the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO).

    According to the document, the highest beneficiary is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with N209 billion (76.99%) for capital projects.

    While Nasarawa State got N14.75 billion (5.43%); Kwara State got N5.19%); Niger State got N12.59 billion (4.63%); Plateau State got N6.63 billion (2.44%); Benue got N7.46 billion (2.75%) while Kogi State got N7.25 billion (2.67%).

    The capital allocation of N73.7 billion went for the implementation of 802 new projects across the seven states in the NorthWest.

    From the appropriated amount, Kano State got N32.14 billion (43.61%) for 166 projects; Kaduna State got N19.82 billion (26.99%) for 292 projects while Katsina State got N9.52 billion (12.92%).

    Jigawa State got N3.56 billion (4.84%). N3.15 billion (4.28%) goes to Kebbi State; while Zamfara State got N2.53 billion for execution of 61 projects and N2.97 billion (4.04%) was allocated to Sokoto State.

    The Southwest got N48.97 billion of which Lagos State got the highest share  of N16.14 billion (32.95%); Oyo State got N12.28 billion (25.08%); Ogun State got N7.95 billion (16.23%); Osun State got N6.52 billion (13.30%); Ondo State got N3.77 billion (7.70%) while Ekiti State got N2.32 billion (4.74%).

    N46.69 billion for the execution of 454 ongoing and mew projects for the Northeast. Of this, Gombe State got N9.70 billion (21%); Taraba State got N9.23%); Bauchi State got N9.23 billion (20%); Yobe State got N6.99 billion (15%); Adamawa state got N5.98 billion (13%) and Borno State N5.98 billion (12%).

    SouthSouth’s six states received N35.31 billion for execution of 474 projects of which 30 are ongoing projects, 438 are new projects while six are unidentified.

    Cross River State, in the breakdown, got N10.75 billion (30.46%); Delta State got N7.55 billion (21.38%); Akwa Ibom State got N1.92 billion (5.45%); Bayelsa State got N3.21 billion (9.08%); River state got N7.29 billion (20.66%) while Edo State got N4.58 billion (12.98%) of the total capital allocation.

    For the Southeast,  N28.22 billion was appropriated for the five States. Abia State got N6.93 billion (24.55%); Anambra State got N3.02 billion (10.20%); Ebonyi state got N4.63 billion (16.41%); Enugu State got N10.15 billion (35.98%) while Imo State got N3.49 billion (12.36%) for capital projects for the year.

  • 2016 Budget: North Central, FCT get lion share for capital projects

    The breakdown of the sharing of funds for the various regions in the country has shown that the North Central has got the lion’s share totaling N271.79 billion for the implementation of capital projects.

    Details of the capital allocation of the 2016 Appropriations Act signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari was contained in a document by the National Assembly Budget and Research Office (NABRO).

    According to the document, the highest beneficiary is the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with the sum of N209 billion (76.99%) for capital projects compared with every region across the Federation.

    While Nasarawa State got N14.75 billion (5.43%); Kwara State got N5.19%); Niger State got N12.59 billion (4.63%); Plateau State got N6.63 billion (2.44%); Benue got N7.46 billion (2.75%) while Kogi State got N7.25 billion (2.67%).

    The capital allocation of N73.7 billion went for the implementation of 802 new projects across the seven States within the North-West region of the Federation.

    From the appropriated amount Kano State got N32.14 billion (43.61%) for 166 projects; Kaduna State got N19.82 billion (26.99%) for 292 projects while Katsina State got N9.52 billion (12.92%).

    Jigawa State got the sum of N3.56 billion (4.84%) While N3.15 billion (4.28%) goes to Kebbi State; while Zamfara State got N2.53 billion for execution of 61 projects and N2.97 billion (4.04%) was allocated to Sokoto State.

    The South West region got a total sum of N48.97 billion of which Lagos State got the highest share allocation of N16.14 billion (32.95%); Oyo State got N12.28 billion (25.08%); Ogun State got N7.95 billion (16.23%); Osun State got N6.52 billion (13.30%); Ondo state got N3.77 billion (7.70%) while Ekiti State got N2.32 billion (4.74%).

    N46.69 billion is for the execution of 454 ongoing and mew projects for the North East geopolitical zone. Out of this, Gombe State got N9.70 billion (21%); Taraba state got N9.23%); Bauchi State got N9.23 billion (20%); Yobe State got N6.99 billion (15%); Adamawa state got N5.98 billion (13%) and Borno State N5.98 billion (12%).

    South South’s six states received N35.31 billion for execution of 474 projects out of which 30 are ongoing projects, 438 are new projects while six are unidentified.

    Cross River state in the breakdown got N10.75 billion (30.46%); Delta State got N7.55 billion (21.38%); Akwa-Ibom State got N1.92 billion (5.45%); Bayelsa State got N3.21 billion (9.08%); River state got N7.29 billion (20.66%) while Edo State got N4.58 billion (12.98%) of the total capital allocation.

    For the South East geopolitical zone, a total sum of N28.22 billion was appropriated for the five States. Abia State got N6.93 billion (24.55%); Anambra State got N3.02 billion (10.20%); Ebonyi state got N4.63 billion (16.41%); Enugu State got N10.15 billion (35.98%) while Imo State got N3.49 billion (12.36%) for capital projects for the year.

  • 2016 budget best for Kwara, says Ahmed

    2016 budget best for Kwara, says Ahmed

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has lauded the inclusion of some deplorable federal roads in the state in the 2016 budget. He described it as the best thing that had happened to the state in the last 16 years from the Federal Government.

    Governor Ahmed spoke during a media chat to mark the first year of his second term in office and the 2016 Democracy Day.

    He listed the federal roads captured in the 2016 budget as Share-Patigi-Kogi boundary road, Kaiama-Kishi road and Ajase-Erinle road. Ahmed added that funding the projects will bring relief to the state’s resources as funds earlier earmarked for the roads would be used for other development projects.

    His words: “This is the best thing that has happened to Kwara in the last 16 years that I know. For the first time, we are getting federal projects in the state coming into the federal budget; projects that we could have spent our money on. When was the last time we were noticed and got projects at the federal level?”