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Tag: Abubakar Bukola Saraki

  • Saraki lists Senate plans to lift Nigeria out of recession 

    Saraki lists Senate plans to lift Nigeria out of recession 

    …Says 2015 elections in Nigeria sets new standard for African countries

     

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday told the visiting European Union (EU) delegation  that the National Assembly was working on legislations aimed at pulling Nigeria  out of the current economic recession.

    Saraki also commended the EU for monitoring the 2015 general elections in Nigeria, which he said has set new standards for other African countries to emulate.

    The Senate President, according to a statement by his Special Assistant on Print Media, Chuks Okocha, told the EU delegation on Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group led by Mr. Santiago Fisas that the legislators are aware that without good economy that can sustain improved standard of living of the ordinary Nigerians, the legislature would not be seen to have succeeded.

    He said the Senate for example has identified 11 economic recovery bills which can help to create a veritable environment for private investment to thrive, jobs to be created, infrastructure to improve and the national Gross Domestic Product to rise.

    Saraki said, “We are focusing on the economy. We are working on how to continue to improve the economy. We are making all efforts to get us out of recession. We have our economy recovery plan. We are also looking at some priority Bills, infrastructure sector that will help to enable private sector participation which will bring more money for government in the social services sector, like education and health.”

    He commended the EU role during the 2015 General Elections in Nigeria as he saying, “For the first time we have been able to transfer power from one party to the other and in a peaceful manner. I think it has sent signal all over Africa. There was a peaceful transition in Ghana as well. It was almost done in The Gambia, but I don’t know what happened but we finally did it.”

    Saraki noted that “It is clear that whatever we have done well in Nigeria, has effect all over the continent. I hope that is the beginning of smooth transition. I want the EU to continue with the role you played and we thank God that it went well. I commend you and hope that it will encourage you to come back when next needed.

    “Let me also thank EU for picking our member in the National Assembly here as one of your partners. I know that in achieving that, Nigeria sees it as a positive move, and that you recognised us as important partner.

    “I discussed widely with some of our colleagues in the House of Representatives. They talked about democracy and election issues and as a government, I am sure they might have mentioned it to you, we are at the final stage of reviewing some of the existing laws that guide our elections.

    “We have learnt some lessons from the 2015 elections and we would see how we can improve on existing laws and see that new amendments when passed, will strengthen our democracy. Our focus is on the humanitarian crisis in the North East. We are also making an attempt on parliamentary actions on what we can do on gender issues.

    “There has been stop and start but I know we will get there. We are addressing that also. So, in the area of partnership, I hope you have been discussing with some of our colleagues on framework with the area of focus we can look at, where there can be partnership and can also be support for legislators. I think that will help us because we are going towards a period of time where we are looking at some of our laws that have been existing for more than two three, four decades with a view to review them.  Now and we have time to review someone them.

    “With what is going on now, it is time we brought those laws in line with today’s economy. So, this will help you determine the kind of support the legislators needs to help them address the challenges ahead for the country.

    “By and large, we talked about open parliament. For the first time, I think by next week, we are going to have a public hearing on the budget process to enable members of the public to have a say in the making of the Appropriation law. It has never happened before. We have not done this before. What we used to do is when we get the budget, we send it to Committees for defence. Now, we are engaging the public to improve the participation of the public in the budget processes”, Saraki explained.

    Leader of the EU delegation,  Fisas said their visit was to explore ways of enhancing the partnership between the European Union and the  Nigerian Parliament, particularly on how to deepen democracy, Human Rights, poverty alleviation, gender parity, Civil Society and Media interaction and how to find solutions emanating thereof.

    “We believe that relationship between states and the parliaments are important for the growth and development of democracy and development”, said Fisas who added that already the EU Parliament has entered into similar partnership with other countries like Ukraine, Georgia, Honduras, among others.

    He said the EU knew the importance of Nigeria in Africa and that fact informed the extension of its hands of fellowship to Nigeria’s parliament.

    Also speaking during the meeting, Senator Kabiru Gaya who was recently elected Vice President of the Inter Parliamentary Union of the African Group said the delegation had already met with the speaker of the House of Representatives and other officials of the National Assembly.

     

  • Saraki’s chief of staff resigns

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Tuesday accepted the resignation of his Chief of Staff, Senator Isa Galaudu.

    A statement by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Senate president, Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki said Galaudu first mentioned his decision to step down for personal reasons last November.

    It said that Saraki and Galaudu agreed on his final exit at the end of January.

    It said that Saraki thanked the outgoing Chief of Staff for his commitment and dedication to duty while also directing the Deputy, Hon. Gbenga Makanjuola to act in that position pending the appointment of a substantive Chief of Staff.

    Sources said that Galaudu resigned to go and face his business.

     

  • Saraki names Ndume INEC committee chairman

    Saraki names Ndume INEC committee chairman

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Wednesday named former Senate Leader, Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume, chairman Senate committee on Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)

    Senator Ndume was controversially removed as Senate Leader on January 10, 2017.

    The Borno South lawmaker described his removal as a “coup” against him and blamed his removal on his position on the nomination of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    President Muhammadu Buhari has since re-nominated Magu for the same position following initial rejection of the nominee by the Senate.

    Other fresh committee appointments Saraki made included Senator Abba Kyari, Chairman, Senate Committee on Defence.

    Senator Kyari was formerly chairman, Senate committee on INEC.

    Senator Magnus Abe (Rivers South East) was named chairman, Senate Committee on Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Senator George Sekibo was named chairman, Senate Committee on Interior.

    The committee on Interior was held by Senator Oleka Nwogu who was defeated by Senator Abe in the December 10, 2016 Senatorial election in Rivers State.

    Senator Aitai Ali Idokko (Kogi East) was assigned Chairman, Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

    With the new five appointments, the Senate now has 68 standing committees.

  • Senate: Full list of APC caucus who signed Ndume’s removal

    Senate: Full list of APC caucus who signed Ndume’s removal

    The caucus of the All Progressive Congress who signed the removal of Senator Ali Ndume as leader of the senate included 39 out of 63 Senators in the 109-member Senate.

    Recall that the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday announced Ndume’s removal shortly before the upper legislative chamber adjourned plenary.

    Saraki made the announcement following a letter he received from the APC caucus titled; ‘Notice of Vote of No Confidence/Change of Leadership’ in which the caucus requested for a change in the leadership.

    The letter which contained the list of Senators (See same below) who appended their signatures was captured in the Senate’s votes and proceedings of Tuesday, approved on Wednesday.

    Full List of the APC Caucus:

    1. Donald Alasoadura, Ondo Central
    2. Rafiu Adebayo, Kwara South
    3. Jibrin Barau, Kano North
    4. Baba Garbai, Borno Central
    5. Dino Melaye, Kogi West
    6. Abubakar Yusuf, Taraba Central
    7. Benjamin Uwajumogu, Imo North
    8. Mustapha Bukar, Katsina North
    9. Joshua Dariye, Plateau Central
    10. Ibrahim Gobir, Sokoto North
    11. Shaba Lafiagi, Kwara South
    12. Ibrahim Abdullahi, Sokoto South
    13. Francis Alimikhena, Edo Central
    14. Suleiman Nazif, Bauchi North
    15. Usman Nafada, Gombe North
    16. Kabiru Marafa, Zamfara Central
    17. Olugbenga Ashafa, Lagos East
    18. Tijjani Kaura, Zamfara North
    19. Suleiman Hunkuyi, Kaduna North
    20. Ubali Shittu, Jigawa Northeast
    21. Shehu Sani, Kaduna Central
    22. Magnus Abe, Rivers Southeast
    23. Aliyu Abdullahi, Niger North;
    24. Umaru Kurfi, Katsina Central
    25. Isa Misau, Bauchi Central
    26. Babajide Omoworare, Osun East
    27. Yahaya Abdullahi, Kebbi North
    28. Kabiru Gaya, Kano South
    29. Ali Wakili, Bauchi South
    30. Ahmed Yarima, Zamfara West
    31. Sabo Mohammed, Jigawa Southwest
    32. Ahmed Lawan, Yobe North
    33. Olarenwaju Tejuoso, Ogun Central
    34. David Umaru, Niger South
    35. Abdullahi Gumel, Jigawa Northwest
    36. Monsurat Sunmonu,  Oyo Central
    37. Binta Masi, Adamawa North
    38. Danjuma Goje, Gombe Central, and
    39. Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano Central.
  • Saraki orders staff audit in National Assembly

    Saraki orders staff audit in National Assembly

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has directed management of the National Assembly to conduct a comprehensive staff audit in the National Assembly.
    Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Senator Isa Galaudu in a letter to the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, said the measure is aimed at “verifying the skills, efficiency and motivation of the employees of the National Assembly.”
    The letter dated December 16, 2016, entitled, “Carrying out a comprehensive human resource audit in the National Assembly” reads in part: “We have made commendable strides in our continuous endeavour to attain the goals set out in the legislative agenda of the 8th National Assembly.
    “We, however, must continue to deploy clear strategies that meet the challenges facing this institution and capitalise on the strengths that we possess.
    “Even the best strategy will ultimately fail without the right people in the right places to execute it. Thus, it has become apparent that at this juncture one of the true challenges of the National Assembly is human capital.
    “I hereby convey the decision of the President of the Senate that you carry out comprehensive Human Resource audit.
    “You should kindly, therefore engage the services of a reputable consulting firm with adequate Human Resources expertise to carry out a complete review and produce a report verifying the skills, efficiency and motivation of the employees of the National Assembly.
    “Expected outcome of this engagement is a detailed assessment of the nominal roll, succession plan and furthermore to identify possible vacancies, duplications, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, limitations, and developmental needs of the existing organisational structure of the National Assembly.
    “The President of the Senate expects the assessment to be completed within 90 days and progress reports be submitted regularly until completion.”
    The Clerk of the National Assembly in a letter noted that a Committee has already been set up.
    Sani-Omolori said that a “tested and trusted” consultant has been appointed to work closely with the Committee.
    The Clerk added that the committee has been inaugurated with the following terms of reference:
    * To verify and ascertain the actual staff strength of the National Assembly;
    * To determine the current structure and distribution of staff in terms of cadre, spread, etc,;
    * To establish skill gaps or excess capacity (if any) within the workforce;
    * Determine the structure and distribution of staff required for an ideal legislative management system, align it with the current staff status of the National Assembly and  determine an accurate personnel cost thereof;
    * Recommend all such other actions as it deems necessary to ensure an efficient and highly motivated workforce.
    Sani-Omolori said that it was also agreed between the consultant and the Committee that the process should be completed by the end of first quarter of 2017 with the submission of the final report.
  • FG, ASUU get two week deadline to resolve issue

    FG, ASUU get two week deadline to resolve issue

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday brokered a two-week deadline for the Federal Government and Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to settle three outstanding issues.
    Three issues out eight are said to be outstanding.
    The resolution of the three issues would avert a nation wide strike planned by ASUU.
    Saraki personally participated in resumed negotiation between the Federal Ministry of Education and the leadership of ASUU held at the National Assembly on Thursday.
    Minister of Education, Mr. Adamu Adamu also took part in the negotiation.
    The three outstanding issues yet to be resolved are “Earned Allowances” which ASUU is asking to be paid to its members.
    The Federal Government however said that N30 billion had already been paid for the purpose.
    The government delegation to the meeting was said to have insisted that the audit of the usage of N30billion should be made before further fund are released.
    At their last meeting, the Senate Education Committee suggested that the government should give universities N1.5 billion monthly which ASUU rejected on the basis that the amount is too meagre.
    Another issue the meeting failed to resolve was paying of the salaries and allowances of the staff of university primary schools.
    The payment of 15 per cent of the education budget for each year to the University Education Committees, is another issue in contention.
    A source said that the Minister of Education Adamu, assured that the issues would be resolved in three days.
    Adamu was also said to have said that if the issues were resolved there may not be need to come to the Senate again.
     ASUU President, Biodun Ogunyemi thanked Saraki and the Senate committee on Education for their intervention assured that the three outstanding issues would be resolved within three days.
    It was also learnt that issues for resolution rose from six to eight because some of the issues had to be broken into subsets.
  • Senate position on $29.9bn loan sacrosanct, says Saraki

    Senate position on $29.9bn loan sacrosanct, says Saraki

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Thursday said that the position of the Senate not to approve the $29.960 billion loan request made by President Muhammad Buhari, remained sacrosanct.

    Saraki said that the National Assembly which he heads as Senate President has taken a position on the issue as required of it by the laws of the land and legislative conventions.

    The Senate President advised politicians and the media to “stop peddling empty speculations about his recent visits to the Presidential Villa and linking such visits to the request by the Buhari administration for approval of the National Assembly to get $29.9bn loan from foreign sources.”

    Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, noted that in all his recent meetings with President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the issue of the proposed loan did not come up for discussion.

    He described as “unfortunate” the comments by some politicians on the loan issue without any factual basis.

    “Like I once told the media, these politically-motivated commentaries are trivialising a serious national issue and presenting it as if it is a personal matter that can be decided at meetings between  Saraki and President Muhammadu Buhari,” Saraki said.

    He added, “The National Assembly which I head as Senate President has taken a position on the issue as required of it by the laws of the land and legislative conventions.

    “At every point, the present National Assembly will make decisions based on national interest and we have vowed that we will always act in the interest of our people. That is why despite the fact that members belong to different parties, when national issues come to the floor we forget about party affiliations and act as Nigerians elected to protect the interest of Nigeria.

    “A visit to the Presidency by the Senate President is a normal thing because we need to consult, discuss, exchange ideas and make suggestions to each other from time to time. More importantly, at this time, when the nation is facing economic crisis, there is need for frequent engagements by the Presidency and the National Assembly.

    “It is in fact very unfortunate that these empty speculations by the media are now forming the basis for commentaries by some politicians who are in a position to be better informed. Politicians should stop playing to the gallery or drawing political capital from all issues.

    “When serious national issues are on ground, we should refrain from making statements based on mere sentiments. Similarly, the media should exercise restraint in their reportage and commentaries in order to properly serve our people.

    “At a time when we are about to prepare a budget which is aimed at responding to the current recession and our plan is to ensure all issues concerning the budget are ironed out before the budget comes to the floor so that we will have a less tedious process than that of last year, the media should be ready to witness more of these engagements between the Presidency and the National Assembly.”

  • Senate vows to deal with govt agencies violating procurement laws

    Senate vows to deal with govt agencies violating procurement laws

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki Thursday threatened that the Senate will take up the case against any ministry, department or agency of government that is violating the Public Procurement law.

    Saraki said that the law compels MDAs to give preference to locally produced goods in country.

    He also asked Senate committee chairmen to ensure in the course of their oversight duties that MDAs complied with the provision of the law on patronage of local manufacturers.

    He urged military and para-military agencies to emulate the Army by procuring items like booths and other needs locally.
    A statement by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Print Media, Chuks Okocha said that the Senate President ‎spoke when members of the Leather and Allied Products Manufacturers Association of Abia State (LEAPMAAS) visited him to express appreciation for the constant support he and the Senate have given to the Buy Made in Nigeria campaign.

    It noted that while responding to the welcome address by the  coordinator of the Association, Chief Ben Hart, Saraki said government spends more than N2 trillion annually in the purchase of goods.

    He said that the aim of the Senate is to ensure that a large chunk of the funds go into the pocket of Nigerian manufacturers.

    He advised local manufacturers to petition the Senate where they feel a government agency is deliberating denying them the opportunity to sell their goods as he said the law making institution was ready to take up such cases.

    He said, “I commend you for your determination and creativity. When I came for your trade fair in Abuja earlier in the year, I promised you that with the support of my colleagues here in the Senate, we will make the campaign to buy Made in Nigeria go beyond a trade fair and become a national agenda for all Nigerians.  Today, we have made it a national project. I also promised you that we will amend the existing law to give your efforts a solid legal backing that will ensure patronage for your products and that of other local manufacturers. That has also been done with the amendment of the Public Procurement Act.

    “I have a promise from the House of Representatives that they will soon pass the same law. Government agencies must necessarily and compulsorily patronise locally made goods.  It has started with order made for booths by the Army.  If the Army are doing that, I also challenge all the other agencies to follow suit. I challenge all the Senate committee chairmen here to ensure that all the other agencies, whether it is Air force, Navy, Customs,  even the Road Safety, Civil Defence, NYSC must follow suit. We should include that as part of the conditions when they come to defend their 2017 budget.  They must show evidence that they patronise and purchase locally made goods.

    “I commend your persistence such that over the years you have been there, giving your support to the growth of the economy government. With little or no assistance, you continued to demonstrate that you have the capacity to produce different high quality goods for the use of Nigerians.

    “This is a very big agenda that we are promoting. I want to thank my colleagues and let me remind you that we have kept our promises, so you should not disappoint us. You must improve on the quality of the goods. You must deliver the orders made on time as agreed with clients. If you look at the budget of all these agencies, it is enough for you to increase your production and that will make Nigeria to take over the market in some of the West African region.

    “On our own part, this is an agenda we believe in, we will continue to support you”, the Senate President re-assured the Aba based manufacturers while adding that one of the major panacea for the present economic recession in the country is to encourage locally manufactured goods to save foreign exchange, generate employment and increase the nation’s gross domestic product.”

    It quoted leader of the delegation Hart to have said that they were at the National Assembly to commend the Senate President, the Senator representing Abia South, Enyinnaya Abaribe and other Senators for their support in promoting the Made in Aba goods.

    He said, “We are here to express our gratitude for your support and show appreciation on this Made in Nigeria Project. Today, we confer on you the title of the Ambassador of Made in Aba goods. We also commend Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and the entire Senate for supporting the passage of the amendment to the Public Procurement Act. By this singular action, you and the Senate have institutionalized the Buy Made in Nigeria campaign.

    “We commend you for your tireless propagation and advocacy for Made in Aba goods. We use this opportunity to assure you and the Senate that we shall continue to improve on the quality of Made in Aba and indeed Made in Nigeria goods. Goods produced in Aba are indeed of high quality. There is nothing that can be manufactured elsewhere which cannot be produced in Aba.”

  • $120 residency fee on Nigerians: Saraki steps in

    $120 residency fee on Nigerians: Saraki steps in

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, appealed to the Ghanaian Parliament to review the $120 Residency Fee imposed on Nigerians living in Ghana.

    Saraki made the appeal when he granted audience to the visiting Ghanaian parliamentarians that paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly.

    This is contained in a statement by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Print Media, Chuks Okocha in Abuja.
    It said that the Senate President while responding to comments by the leader of the Ghanaian Parliamentary delegation, Hon. Alfred Agbesi, said: “I am appealing to you my colleagues in the parliament in Ghana on the recent laws passed on Nigerians to pay a residency fee of $120. I am appealing that you review this law and take a second look at it again as things are hard. This recession is biting hard.”

    Ghana early this year imposed a fee of $120 on Nigerians and other immigrants that stayed in the country for a total of 90 days or more in a given year and are required by law to register for the Non-citizen Ghana card at the cost of $120 (N19,000).

    The Act, which is enshrined under the Foreigners Identification Management System (FIMS), in pursuance of Authority’s mandate under the NIA Act, 2006 (Act 707), the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750) and the National Identity Regulations, 2012, made it compulsory that the non-citizen Ghana card is the mandatory form of identification to be used in all transactions which includes applying for or renewing residence permits, opening or running a bank account etc.

    It said that Saraki also commended the Ghanaian Parliament for supporting Nigeria to emerge as the Vice President for the West African Region in the just concluded  Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) conference in Geneva.

    Also responding to the request of the visiting Ghanaian Parliamentarians that the National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS) should help the Ghanaian law makers in legislative drafting, Dr. Saraki assured that NILS would assist their law makers where necessary, explaining that  it was for such purpose that the institute was established.

    According to the Senate President, “NILS has been very instrumental in propagating the ideals of legislative enhancement. It is because of the activities of NILS that people who ask what does the legislature do that our works are being appreciated.”

    He further stated that NILS has been resolute in propagating the work of the National Assembly especially in enhancing the economic agenda of the National Assembly to bring Nigeria out of the current economic recession.

    Earlier, leader of the delegation, Alfred Agbesi who is the Deputy Leader of the Ghanaian Parliament said that they were in Nigeria to seek the help of NILS in legislative drafting for in-coming law makers and how it would help in the performance of their  duties.

    Agbesi described NILS as one of the main pillars to advance democracy in Ghana, while pledging to enhance and improve bilateral relationship between Nigeria and Ghana.
  • Senate rejects FIRS budget over alleged duplications of figures

    Senate rejects FIRS budget over alleged duplications of figures

    The Senate Thursday stepped down the 2016 budget of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over alleged shoddy preparation of the financial document.

    The upper chamber threw out the report of its Committee on Finance which considered the FIRS budget due to what it described as “the poor preparation of the document.”

    This is coming about four months after President Muhammadu Buhari submitted the 2016 budget of the tax collection agency to the Senate.

    The upper chamber referred the budget to its Committee on Finance for further legislative action on 25th of July, 2016.

    The Senate came hard on its Finance Committee for accommodating what it described as “glaring duplications in the budget estimates.”

    The lawmakers were categorical on their blame that the Finance Committee in its consideration of the N146, 165,108, 293 billion budget proposals of FIRS failed to scrutinize subheads of the proposals.

    The Senate also agreed that the report submitted for consideration supported the Committee’s position that more oversight of the budget was necessary.

    Some Senators expressed concern that the FIRS budget estimates were “poorly compiled and incomplete.”

    They insisted that “the days where a partially prepared budget is sent to the Senate are over.”

    Some said the refusal to pass the budget should be “a strong signal to the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that there will be no more business as usual in the budget process as the Senate awaited the arrival of the 2017 federal budget.”

    The lawmakers also frowned at what they called “ambiguous figures and questionable inclusion of capital projects” in the budget

    Some of the proposals in the budget included: Office materials and supplies -440,000,000;

    Library books and periodicals – 68,000,000; Computer materials and supplies- 530,000,000;

    Printing of non-security documents – 1,900,000,000; Printing of security documents- 250,000,000; Maintenance of office furniture and equipment- 90,000,000; Maintenance of building office- 300,000,000; Maintenance of office equipments – 266,000,000; Maintenance of computers and IT equipments- 120,000,000; Maintenance of plants/generators- 170,000,000;

    Cleaning and fumigation services -750,000,000; Office rent- 885,000,000; Security vote- 250,000,000; Legal services- 500,000,000; Motor vehicle fuel cost – 700,000,000; Generator fuel cost – 750,000,000; Refreshment and meals- 586,000,000; Hire of hall, accommodation and events- 350,000,000; Honorarium and sitting allowance payments- 150,000,000; Publicity, advert and taxpayers education- 2,000,000,000; Medical expenditure- 700,000,000; Postages and courier services- 244,000,000; Welfare packages- 681,000,000; Tax audit investigation and monitoring- 2,500,000,000; and Tax investigation- 500,000,000.

    Other estimates are Purchase of vehicles- 2,300,000,000; Purchase of furniture and equipment-general-5,180,000,000; Acquisition of land and building- 5,586,300,000; Construction of offices- new projects-300,000,000; Rehabilitation/Repairs- 4,028,000,000; Rehabilitation/Repair of offices- new projects- 415,000,000; Other infrastructure- ICT New projects- 555,000,000;

    Other infrastructure-ongoing projects- 2,026,000,000; FIRS corporate headquarters- 10,000,000,000

    The Senators described some of the proposals as “curious” and wondered why the Finance Committee simply lifted the figures contained in the submission of FIRS into its report for the consideration of the Senate.

    The upper chamber asked the Senator John Enoh led Finance Committee to reflect observations made by Senators in the report and report back to Senate in plenary within one week.

    The explanation of Senator Enoh about the rationale behind the approval of some capital projects in the budget did not go down well with majority of the lawmakers.

    Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Na’Allah, who stood in for the Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume, promptly moved that the report be stepped down to give the committee time to correct the lapses.

    Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, who summed contributions of Senators, noted the late submission of budgets of government departments and agencies, especially revenue generating agencies.

    Saraki noted that going forward, budgets of special agencies not included in the annual budget, must be submitted not later than the first quarter of the year.

    He said, “I will partly blame these things on the late submission of budgets. This practice where government agencies send their budgets late to the National Assembly and expect them to be passed immediately will not be tolerated.

    “They must submit their budgets early so that we can have enough time to work on their proposals.

    “If we do that, these issues we have here will not arise. The relevant committees should take note of that and ensure that the right thing is done.”

    Saraki ruled that the report be returned to Senator Enoh’s committee to rework.

    The Senate also failed to pass the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Authority Act, 2011 Amendment Bill 2016.

    Like the FIRS report, the report of the amendment bill was also presented by Senator Enoh-led Finance committee.

    The lawmakers fingered constitutional conflicts for their inability to pass the bill.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu observed that it will be illegal to pass the amendment bill without first amending the constitution which stipulated how monies accruable to the Federation Account should be shared among the three tiers of government.

    The consideration of the report was subsequently suspended pending when the National Assembly will conclude its ongoing constitution review exercise.

    The constitution review is expected to address the conflicts observed in the report.

    Apart from the FIRS budget rejection, the Senate returned the 2017 to 2019 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) to the Presidency and turned down the bid by President Muhammadu Buhari to borrow $29.96 billion due to lack of supporting documentation and details of where the expenditures are to be allocated.

    It is the thinking of some observers that the failure to submit supporting documentation for examination has held up the 2017 budget process.

    The leadership of the Senate has long stated that they had hoped to resolve most outstanding issues of disagreement well ahead of receiving the 2017 budget.