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Tag: 2017 budget

  • 2017 Budget: Fashola replies NASS, decries resort to name-calling

    2017 Budget: Fashola replies NASS, decries resort to name-calling

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has expressed concern over the reaction of the National Assembly to his observations on the 2017 Budget as passed by the legislature.

    Fashola had in a recent interview, complained that the legislators had in approving the budget, reduced funds for some key projects of his ministry and allocated the money to some frivolous ones.

    He had disagreed with the practice where the legislature unilaterally altered the budget after putting members of the Executive through budget defence sessions and committee hearings.

    According to him, it amounted to a waste of tax-payers money and unnecessary distortion of orderly planning, for the lawmakers to unilaterally insert items not under the exclusive or concurrent lists.

    Specifically, Fashola had said that the lawmakers altered the budgetary allocations for rehabilitation of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, the Bodo-Bonny road and the Kano-Maiduguri road.

    Other projects whose funds were tampered with the national assembly, he alleged, were the second Niger Bridge and the long-drawn Mambilla Hydropower project.

    He said the allocations were diverted to construction of scores of boreholes and primary health care centres, which were never discussed during the ministerial budget defence at the parliament.

    But the spokespersons of the Senate and the House of Representatives, in separate responses, had accused the minister of spreading “half-truths” and making “fallacious’’ statements.

    They accused the minister of wanting to hold on to the projects he complained about in order that he may continue to award contracts.

    In a statement on Monday in Abuja, Fashola said it was sad that the lawmakers could resort to name-calling even without understanding the facts of what they were getting into.

    He insisted that there was no subsisting concession agreement on the Lagos–Ibadan expressway as alleged by the national assembly.

    He explained that what the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) had was a financing agreement from a consortium of banks, saying that there was no fallacy or half-truth in the allegation that the budgets were reduced.

    “The spokespersons admitted this much and now sought to rationalise it by a concession or financing arrangement that has failed to build the road since 2006.

    “The biggest momentum seen on the road was in 2016,” the minister said.

    On the second Niger Bridge, whose 2016 allocation, the lawmakers claimed, was not spent and had to be returned, Fashola said, “this displays very stark and worrisome gaps in knowledge of the spokesperson about the budget process he was addressing.’’

    According to him, a budget is just an approval of estimates of expenditure to be financed by cash from the Ministry of Finance.

    He said that the Ministry of Finance did not yet release any cash for the 2nd Niger Bridge and that no money was returned.

    The minister said that the continuation of early works could not start in May, 2016 when the budget was passed because of high water level in the River Niger.

    He also dismissed the allegation that the ministry under him was holding on to projects that could be funded through Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) as a tissue of lies.

    On the budget for Mambila Power Project, which was slashed because it contained a whopping N17 billion for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the minister said that there was indeed a “mis-description’’ of the expenditure.

    According to him, what was described as a Budget Head for EIA was actually the nation’s counterpart funding to the China- EXIM loan to fund the building of the project.

    He said that the information on the budget for Mambilla project was brought to his attention only after it had been slashed.

    “In any event, allegations of half-truths are only a flawed response to the constitutional and developmental issues that have plagued Nigeria from 1999 about how to budget for the critical infrastructure in Nigeria.

    “It shows the conflict between the Executive that wants to build big federal highways, bridges, power plants, rail and dams on one hand and a Parliament that wants to do small things.

    “The parliament wants to do things like boreholes, health centres, street lights and supplying grinding machines,” he said.

    “As long as budgets, planned to deliver life-changing infrastructure, are cut into small pieces, Nigeria will continue to have small projects that are not life-changing and big projects that have not been completed in 17 years.

    “If a project would cost N15 billion and the contractor gets only a fraction of that, then things won’t move.

    “Success should be defined by how many projects an administration is able to complete or set on the path of irreversible completion and not how many poorly funded contracts are awarded,” Fashola added.

     

  • NASS failed to address key issues on budget – Fashola

    NASS failed to address key issues on budget – Fashola

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, on Monday said the National Assembly’s response to his observation on the 2017 Budget did not address fundamental issues raised on funds allocated to  key ministries.

    Fashola, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media, Hakeem Bello, expressed concern over the recourse to name-calling and personal attack by the federal lawmakers, insisting the legislators lack power to insert items in budget prepared by the executive.

    The minister said he was worried that spokespersons of the Senate and House of Representatives failed to state the reason the National Assembly cut allocations to key infrastructure projects of the ministry.

    While acknowledging that legislators could contribute to budget making, Fashola disagreed that members of the legislative arm have powers to alter items in the budget after putting the executive members through defence sessions and committee hearings.

    The minister observed that it amounts to abuse and disregard for law for lawmakers to unilaterally insert items not contained in the original documents submitted by the executive.

    He listed the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Bodo-Bonny Road, Kano-Maiduguri Highway, Second Niger Bridge and Mambilla Hydropower Project, among others, as those the NASS members altered in the budget to insert boreholes and primary health care projects.

    Fashola minister insisted that there is no subsisting concession agreement on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, adding that the Infrastructure Construction Regulatory Commission (ICRC) only has a financing agreement with a consortium of banks, which must be paid back through budgetary provisions.

    The statement reads: “I acknowledge the need for legislators to make input in budget process as representatives of the people, but it amounts to a waste of tax payers money and an unnecessary distortion for lawmakers to unilaterally insert items not under the exclusive or concurrent lists of the Constitution, such as boreholes and streetlights after putting Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) through the process of budget defence.

    “It is sad that the lawmakers resorted to name-calling even without understanding what they were getting into. Let us take the projects, which the lawmakers chose to focus on, one after the other. I want the public to know there is no subsisting concession agreement on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway. What the Infrastructure Construction Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has is a financing agreement from a consortium of banks, which is like a loan that still has to be paid back through budgetary provisions.

    “In the case of the Second Niger Bridge, which the NASS spokespersons alleged that the provision in 2016 budget was not spent and had to be returned, it is display of worrisome gaps in knowledge by the spokespersons about the budget process. The lawmakers must know that a budget is not cash; it is an approval of estimates of expenditure to be financed by cash from the Ministry of Finance.”

     

     

     

  • Falana: National Assembly wrong to alter budget

    Falana: National Assembly wrong to alter budget

    Lagos lawyer Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) has faulted the National Assembly for inserting new projects into the 2017 Budget.

    Falana in an interview on Channels TV said the Executive should get the Supreme Court to settle the matter once and for all.

    He said: “We have been on this game since 1999. This is about the fourth president. Every year, we have this controversy. It is totally uncalled for over the power of the National Assembly to tinker with the budget…We have advised the government to put this matter to rest by approaching the Supreme Court. The precious time of the nation has been wasted over who has the right to the project. In 2014, I went to court… The court agreed that it is the duty of the president to prepare the budget, while the national Assembly , even though not a rubber stamp, shall inform input into the budget. But that does not mean, according to the judgment, that it can be substituted with another by the National Assembly.

    “The constitution says the ‘President shall cause to be prepared’. What does preparation mean? It means the Ministry of Budget, the Ministry of Finance and all the relevant agencies of government will prepare the budget and collate the figure…the Presidency would have done some feasibility studies. If that is presented to the National Assembly, it has the right to say ‘a similar secretariat was built in Ghana at a lower cost’. But you cannot say it will cost N205b without any Bill of quantity…You cannot singlehandedly introduce new projects. Who is going to fund it?”

  • Akeredolu signs 2017 budget

    Akeredolu signs 2017 budget

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu yesterday signed this year’s Appropriation Bill into law.

    On Monday, the House of Assembly approved a budget of N170 billion.

    After signing the appropriation bill, the governor said debt service would gulp N8.127 billion, while statutory transfers would take N8.374 billion.

    The governor said the recurrent expenditure is N95.159 billion and capital expenditure is N59.187 billion.

    According to him, the state is facing a serious financial challenge due to low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

    He said his administration would adopt new strategies to improve revenue generation.

    Akeredolu said his administration was aware of the challenges the state was facing on budget implementation because of paucity of funds.

    He said: “We are, however, determined to improve our fiscal circumstances substantially through revenue generation.”

    The governor, who stressed the need to invest into the future, pledged that the state’s tax base would be expanded to generate more revenue.

    He solicited the residents’ cooperation to enable his administration realise the dream of the state.

    Speaker Bamidele Oloyelogun said a N168 billion budget was presented to the Assembly.

    After scrutiny, he said, the Assembly adjusted the budget to N170 billion.

    The Speaker said the adjustment was meant to cater for the needs of the state-owned tertiary institutions.

    Akeredolu warned civil servants against what he called unscrupulous acts.

    The governor, who expressed displeasure at the attitude of some workers, regretted that some of them were fraudulent.

    He threatened to sack workers involved in fraud and other financial crimes that could undermine their oaths of allegiance.

    Akeredolu said: “We shall not fail to deal decisively with any civil servant found guilty. I believe in due process and, as a lawyer, I love litigations.

    So, if I decide to sack any civil servant, you are free to go to court. I am not afraid to fight the cankerworm that has eaten deep into our system.”

     

  • 2017 budget: Jibrin backs Osinbajo on project insertion

    2017 budget: Jibrin backs Osinbajo on project insertion

    Suspended House of Representatives member Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) has expressed regrets that the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo may have played into the hands of the National Assembly by signing the 2017 budget into law despite the misgivings he had over the document.

    He said Osinbajo’s gesture should not be mistaken as a flaw and neither was it deserving of the threats he is getting from the federal legislators.

    Jibrin, in a statement yesterday, regretted that due process was jettisoned over grey areas identified by the acting President before the document was signed into law.

    He, however, assured that more facts about the 2016 budget were set to be released by him as a means of further identifying the inherent flaws in the 2017 budget document.

    He said: “The Acting President made what, in my opinion, was a harmless remark when he observed that the National Assembly has no powers to introduce new projects in the budget. In the same statement, however, he admitted the powers of National Assemblyto allocate resources as that is its core powers of appropriation.

    “I consider his statement very objective. His tone wasn’t confrontational, neither was his body language. Acting President Osinbajo had a day earlier signed the 2017 budget, noting that there were grey areas, especially funds lifted from key projects, to introduce new projects by National Assembly.

    “He further stated that he agreed to sign the budget after the assurance of commitment from National Assemblyto restore the lifted funds. That demonstration of faith in National Assembly was unprecedented, and the most generous concession in budget negotiation by a President since 1999.

    “No any president has ever agreed to sign the budget into law on the basis of extracting commitment from National Assembly to attend to outstanding issues after the budget is signed into law, the reasons being:

    “Once the budget is signed into law, the President must implement it, whether National Assembly makes the correction or not.

    “No President was ready to take the risk with National Assembly but Osinbajo did, as it appeared like striking a deal with an untrustworthy partner.”

    Jubrin said Osinbajo deserved a reciprocal gesture and unmistakable friendship from the lawmakers, not attacks and threats.

    The lawmaker added that in due course, he would do a recap of the 2016 budget fraud with new revelations of facts and key actors involved.

    “We will talk about fraud in 2017 budget, how members of the Executive arm collaborate with National Assembly in this venture, new strategies to beat vigilant eyes, concealment, abnormality, reckless spending, budget revenue frame work, and two dollar extra benchmark.

    “Also to be addressed are N140 billion increment in budget size amidst dwindling revenues (the largest in recent years), poor economics, the “reformed” budget process, public hearing of budget, page by page consideration of details, corrigendum, the lies, facts and half-truths of budgeting, conspiracy of a few members of National Assembly in the budget process against majority of the 359 members and 108 senators and, very importantly, how to stop these infractions.”

  • Ondo Assembly passes 2017 Budget

    Ondo Assembly passes 2017 Budget

    Ondo State House of Assembly Monday passed the state 2017 Budget proposal of N170, 846,580billion transmitted to the House by Governor Olurotimi Akeredolu into law penultimate week.

    The Chairman of the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation,Sunday Olajide presented the report of the Committtee to the House.

    He said the bill, having undergo proper scrutiny by its members and public sitting for all Ministries,Department and Agencies,(MDAs)the extremely restrained itself from granting indiscriminate request by MDAs because of paucity of fund.

    Olajide noted that the committee only redistributed fund on some critical areas with a marginal increase by N1, 126,000,000.

    The lawmaker said the overall budgetary provision would now be N170, 846,580,000.

    Olajide highlighted the observation of the committee that the 2017 expenditurewas carefully projected and set at sustainable level with due to consideration for the present economic realities.

    The committee however recommended that all MDAs should ensure that the provisions in the budget are applied to the needs stated therein.

    Besides,it said the Board of internal Revenue should make vigorous efforts to block all identified leakages as much as possible.

    The State government according to the committee should take all the steps necessary to propel all income generating MDAs to embark on internally generated revenue drive in line with extant laws with a view to attain their revenue target.

    The Speaker of the House, David Oleyelogun appreciated all members of the Budget Committee for their effort and commended other members of the House for their cooperation and diligence in the process of working on the Budget proposal.

    The budget has increased by N1,126,000,000 with the N169,720,580 billion earlier presented by the Governor on June 5,2017,making a total sum of N170,846,580.billion

    The new budget which put the  Recurrent Expenditure at  N95,159,200,000 billion ,capital expenditure at N59,186,681,884 billion,debt service at N8,126,698,115 billion and statutory transfer at N8,374,000,000.

    The Assembly unanimously approved the Budget after members deliberated on the report of the House Committee on Budget which scrutinized the bill as proposed by the Governor.

  • 2017 budget: Jibrin backs Osinbajo on project insertion

    2017 budget: Jibrin backs Osinbajo on project insertion

    Suspended Abdulmumin Jibrin (APC, Kano) has expressed regrets that the acting President Yemi Osinbajo may have played into the hands of the National Assembly by signing the 2017 budget into law despite the misgivings he had over the document.

    He however said the acting President Osinbajo’s gesture should not be mistaken as a flaw neither was it deserving of the threats he is getting from the federal legislators.

    Jibrin, in a statement Monday regretted that due process was jettisoned over grey areas identified by the acting President before the document was signed into law.

    Jibrin however assured that more facts about the 2016 budget were set to be released by him as a means of further identifying the inherent flaws in the 2017 budget document.

    He said: “The Ag President made what, in my opinion, was a harmless remark when he observed that the National Assembly has no powers to introduce new projects in the budget. In the same statement, however, he admitted the powers of NASS to allocate resources as that is its core powers of appropriation.

    “I consider his statement very objective. His tone wasn’t confrontational, neither was his body language. Ag President Osinbajo had a day earlier signed the 2017 budget noting that there were grey areas, especially funds lifted from key projects, to introduce new projects by NASS.

    “He further stated that he agreed to sign the budget after the assurance of commitment from NASS to restore the lifted funds. That demonstration of faith in NASS was unprecedented, and the most generous concession in budget negotiation by a President since 1999.

    “No any President has ever agreed to sign the budget into law on the basis of extracting commitment from NASS to attend to outstanding issues after the budget is signed into law, the reasons being:

    “Once the budget is signed into law, the President MUST implement it, whether NASS makes the correction or not.

    “There are only two ways to achieve such corrections: supplementary budget or Virement, both of which are as good as going through the entire budget process all over again, and will require the Executive to go the full length of lobbying and massaging the ego of NASS, a process they detest so much.

    “The unpredictable nature of the relationship between the Legislature and the Executive, as the state of such relationship at a particular time determines how friendly and expeditiously NASS attends to requests from the Executive.

    “Already an unhealthy prevailing circumstances is being created that will make the process tough and place few people in NASS to negotiate some selfish interest only beneficial to themselves.

    “That has been the name of the game. The NASS should know that how it handles this historic concession granted it by the Executive under the guide of Ag President Osinbajo will determine the approach of the Executive Arm in future budget negotiation”.

    Jibrin said Osinbajo was able to accomplish a lot with the signing of the budget what no leader had done before.

    “On one occasion,  President Buhari said, “If we have waited for six months, we can as well wait for weeks for NASS to correct the grey areas before I sign.” That has been the pattern with successive presidents.

    “No President was ready to take the risk with NASS but Osinbajo did, as it appeared like striking a deal with an untrustworthy partner.

    “Whether this seeming pact is calculated or not, is left for time and the scrutiny of vigilant and critical Nigerians to determine.

    “What is obvious, however, is: the Ag President has played into the hands of NASS.

    “What the Ag President has given to NASS is a victory it has never had in the budget process since 1999, understandably to strengthen the relationship between the two frequently hostile arms of government.

    “And so, he deserves a reciprocal gesture and unmistakable friendship from the lawmakers, not attacks and threats. This is my position,” he added.

    The lawmaker disclosed that in due course, he would do a recap of the 2016 budget fraud with new revelations of facts and key actors involved.

    “We will talk about fraud in 2017 budget, how members of the Executive arm collaborate with NASS in this venture, new strategies to beat vigilant eyes, concealment, abnormality, reckless spending, budget revenue frame work, and 2 dollar extra benchmark.

    “Also to be addressed are N140 billion increment in budget size amidst dwindling revenues (the largest in recent years), poor economics, the “reformed” budget process, public hearing of budget, page by page consideration of details, corrigendum, the lies, facts and half-truths of budgeting, conspiracy of a few members of NASS in the budget process against majority of the 359 Members and 108 Senators and, very importantly, how to stop these infractions”.

     

  • 2017 Budget: FG to release N350bn in first tranche

    2017 Budget: FG to release N350bn in first tranche

    In conformity with plans for targeted release of funds under the 2017 national budget, the Federal Government is about to release N350 billion to Ministries, Department and Agencies ( MDAs) for towards execution of capital projects under the 2017 budget, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun has said.

    Speaking during an interactive session that preceded the official  public presentation of 2017 Appropriation Act organized by the  Budget Office and Ministry of Budget and National Planning in Abuja on Monday, Adeosun stated that after a scheduled cash-plan meeting, the Federal Government is to release the N350 billion and funds for other key projects and initiatives.

    At the event where the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma gave details of the national budget, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahaman Danbazzau   later told newsmen of plans to form a special squad that would tackle the challenges posed by herdsmen.

    Giving details of plans for the implementation of this year’s national budget, Senator Udoma stated that targeted funding of projects would be done with the Project-Based Release System in order to curb waste of public funds by MDAs while evidence of compliance with the Bureau of Public Procurement Act is now part of compulsory requirements before approval of any capital release.

    Also, all MDAs have been prohibited from unilateral endorsement of any foreign currency denominated contract without the approval of the Ministers of Finance and that of Budget and National Planning.

    Udoma who said that the 2017 budget would run from this month to  June next year also stated that the Federal Government would strengthen its monitoring and evaluation framework to improve physical inspection and impact assessment of projects and programmes implemented by MDAs .

    However, consultations are being made between the executive and the National Assembly towards going back to the January to December implementation of budgets with effect from next year’s budget.

    The 2017 budget has an expenditure outlay of N7.44 trillion, representing an increase of 22.8% over the 2016 budget provision of N6.06 trillion.

    Statutory transfers make up N434.41 billion ,  debt service of N1.66 trillion; sinking fund to retire certain maturing bonds is N177.46 billion.

     

    Also, non-debt recurrent expenditure is to take N2.99 trillion while capital expenditure, inclusive of statutory transfers has N2.36 trillion.

    The budget’s overall projected budget fiscal deficit is N2.36 trillion, which is about 2.18% of GDP – a point which the Minister described as being well within the 3%  stipulated threshold.

    The budget includes recurrent non-debt expenditure of N2.99 trillion made up of: Personnel costs – N1.88 trillion (63%) overhead – N219.84 billion (7%), services wide vote pensions – N89.98 billion (3%) Consolidated Revenue Fund Pensions – N191.63 billion (6%).

    According to Udoma, the 2017 budget will be financed “mainly by borrowings which have been projected at N2.32 trillion. Of this amount, N1.07 trillion (46% of this borrowing) is intended to be sourced externally, while N1.25 trillion will be sourced domestically. The debt service to revenue ratio is projected to be about 32.7% in financial year 2017” .

    “In terms of implementation of the budget, we are making strenuous efforts to find the resources required. We are challenging our revenue generating agencies, particularly the FIRS and Customs, to improve their efficiencies and broaden their reach so as to achieve the targets set for them in the 2017 budget”.

    “Most importantly, we will strive to maximize the revenues we can generate from the oil and gas sector as it is clear that the foreign exchange generated from the sector is critical for our plans to diversify to the non- oil sectors. While we are introducing creative measures to improve on the efficiencies in that sector to increase Government’s take, we are also engaging more extensively with the communities and people of the Niger Delta to minimize disruptions to oil production”.

    “We are also working on the ERGP Implementation Plan (ERGP-IP) which will  guide the implementation  of the 2017 budget as well as other budgets over the medium term. It is my expectation that as we remain strategic and bold in our implementation process we will achieve the objectives set out in the ERGP”, Udoma stated.

    He also emphasized Federal Government’s concerns over the prevalence of abandoned Federal projects all over the country, adding that government hopes to tackle this through the strengthening of its monitoring and evaluation· framework· to improve· physical inspection· and impact· assessment· of projects and programmes implemented by MDAs .

    “We are worried and concerned about the number· of abandoned capital· projects scattered in their thousands throughout the country, which we inherited from previous administrations.

    “We know· that you can’t continue· doing things the same way· and expect· different result, so we have to do things differently.

    “We need to have· more targeted releases; we have to look at the projects which are important and can easily be completed.

     

    “The ministers are working together to ensure· that over time, we concentrate our resources on completing important projects, so that we have maximum impact,, ’’ he said .

    Officials at the public presentation of the 2017 Appropriation Act include the  Minister of Interior Abdulrahaman Danbazzau, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, Director General, Budget ,Mr.Ben Akabueze ; Minister of Foreign Affairs  , Geoffrey  Onyeama and the Minister of Health, Dr.Isaac Adewole.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahaman Danbazzau   explained that the 3, 000 strong special squad being constituted to address the menace of herdsmen would comprise personnel from the National Security and Civil  Defence (NSCDC).

    Dambazau stated that the special unit is to be saddled with the task of protecting the public against herdsmen attack.

    He said the idea of having such important unit was mooted some months ago stating that, about 3,000 NSCD personnel had been selected to undergo special training.

    He also expressed his conviction that many of the herdsmen threatening the peace and order within the country are from other countries, especially within the ECOWAS sub-region.

    According to Dambazau, Nigeria and other countries that are signatories to the ECOWAS protocol which guarantees free movement of citizens have a responsibility to find ways to monitor the movement and activities of itinerant herdsmen.

     

  • NASS has powers to alter budget – Dogara

    NASS has powers to alter budget – Dogara

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Thursday said the National Assembly has powers to alter national budget according to the desire of the citizens.

    He stated this during plenary after Abubakar Lawal (APC- Adamawa) drew the attention of the lower chamber to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo’s remarks on the matter.

    Osinbajo’s was quoted as saying the power of appropriation was vested with the executive arm of government.

    Dogara said it is left to the judiciary to interpret which arm of government has the powers to alter the budget according to the Constitution.

    He said: “This issue is left to the judiciary to interpret to us as to what arm of government has power to do what. For me, this is not an issue we should dwell so much on.

    “I don’t want to believe that the Acting President made that statement because when it comes to the budget, the power of the purse rests with the parliament.

    “The executive is just one man; every other person in the executive arm is answerable to the President alone. The relationship is that of master and servant, but for the parliament, it is that of equals.

    “Even, when the President hasn’t said anything, everyone is trying to read what the body language is; the basis of democracy is collaboration.

    “In the case of the budget, if the parliament disagrees with the executive, the worst that would happen is that they will refuse to sign the budget.

    “In that case, we can override the veto of the President and pass it into law.

    “The worse the executive can say is that they will not implement. The question then will be, is that the law of the land? Anyone with honour, who is in the seat, should know the right thing to be done.

    “In case of the executive, everyone knows the consequence and I don’t want to mention it by its name.

    “This house is not going to be a rubber stamp to the executive arm.

    “In the United States where we borrowed our Constitution from, once the President walks into the chamber with the budget proposal, it becomes dead on arrival.

    “It is therefore what the parliament decides that brings it back to life.

    “The priority of the people may not be that of the executive. This kind of talk is not helpful, so we shouldn’t even take a debate on the issue.”

    NAN

  • Senate won’t cede its constitutional powers to executive – Saraki

    Senate won’t cede its constitutional powers to executive – Saraki

    Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said on Thursday the Senate would never surrender its constitutional powers to the executive arm of government under any guise.

    Saraki noted that even when the upper chamber bends backward to accommodate issues such gesture should not be misconstrued to mean weakness or misinterpreted to mean that the constitutional powers assigned to the Senate do not exist.

    The Senate President was ruling on an Order raised by Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, on whether or not the National Assembly has powers to alter the Appropriation Bill as presented by the Executive.

    The Senate, Saraki insisted, would continue to defend the Constitution and ensure that its actions are covered by the Constitution at all times.

    Na’Allah drew the attention of his colleagues to a statement credited to thy Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who said the National Assembly erred to have altered the 2017 Appropriation Bill.

    Osinbajo was quoted as saying the National Assembly has no right to introduce new projects or modify those contained in the Appropriation Bill.

    The acting President also expressed disappointment in the legislature for delaying the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill which he signed on Monday.

    Osinbajo said: “I am sure that we understand not just how to do it right, but to get it done in good time.

    “This last budget, the President presented it last December. Despite the assurances that it will be passed in by February, it was not passed until May.

    “As it turned out, we were quite disappointed that it spent a bit of time before it was approved. And thereafter, we had to go into negotiations with the National Assembly in order to get it right.

    “Now, there are these two broad issues about who can do what. The first report is about who can do what. When you present budget to the National Assembly, it is presented as a bill, an appropriation bill.

    “And secondly, do not introduce entirely new projects and all of that or modify projects. This is something that we experienced last year and this year again. It now leaves the question about who is supposed to do what.”

    Na’ Allah, who brought up the issue said, “I want to make a personal explanation on the media reports credited to the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to the effect that the National Assembly does not possess any power to alter the budget submitted to it by the Executive. I offer explanation that we have operated this Constitution from 1999 to date.

    “I am sure that everybody who knows me knows that I have some limited understanding of the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I have also had the privilege to work with the Acting President while I was practicing in Lagos as a lawyer.

    “We did a lot of things together. So, he is somebody that I know so much, that I will rather believe that what was alleged to have been said could not have been said by him and even if he spoke on the matter, he was misquoted.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, this same Constitution we operated from 1999 to date has section 80, and the title of section 80 is “Power and Control over Public Funds.”

    “I read: All revenues or other monies raised or received by the Federation not being revenues of other monies payable under this Constitution or any Act of the National Assembly into any other Public Fund of the Federation established for a specific purpose shall be payable to and for one consolidated fund of the Federation.

    “Two says: No monies shall be withdrawn from the Consolidated revenue Fund of the Federation except to meet expenditure that is charged upon the Fund by the Constitution or where the issue of those monies has been authorised by an Appropriation Act, Supplementary Appropriation Act or Act passed in pursuance of Section 81 of the Constitution.

    “Three: No money shall be withdrawn from any public funds of the Federation other than the Consolidated revenue fund of the Federation unless the issue of those monies has been authorised by an Act of the National Assembly.”