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Tag: House Committee on Appropriation

  • National Assembly Leadership: APC, Buhari To Decide, Says Jibrin

    The former chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Abdulmumuni Jibrin Kofa on Thursday in Kano said the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and President Muhammadu Buhari will play major roles in determining the formation of the new leadership of the National Assembly.

    Kofa who became famous for exposing the ‘budget padding saga’ in 2016 urged members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the 9th National Assembly to shield their ambition and work together as a family so as to avoid rancour in selecting the leadership of the National Assembly.

    The lawmaker who was recently re-elected to represent Kiru/Bebeji Federal Constituency in Kano, said there was need for the APC caucus in the National Assembly to involve the patty leadership and President Buhari for advise so as to avoid the mistake of the past that almost tore the ranks of the party apart.

    According to him, “from the information I have, our party, the APC has the majority of members in the 9the National Assembly. We are advising our colleagues that everybody should surpress his ambition for now.

    “We will approach the party leadership, and of course approach the president and engage with him and take instructions on what needs to be done.

    “So, precisely, if you want me to put it in a categorical way, we will listen to what the President wants us to do, and of course what the party wants us do, and that is exactly what is going to be done. We will not make the mistake of the past.”

    The third-timer member of the House of Representatives also used the opportunity to thank the people of his constituency for giving him another chance to represent them at the Green Chamber.

    He promised to use his wealth of experience to sponsor bills that will have positive impact not only to the people of his consistency, but to all Nigerians.

    Kofa, also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari for his well-deserved victory at the polls, and appealed to well-meaning Nigerians to rally round President Buhari so as to take the country to the Next Level.

    The lawmaker also called on Kano electorate to reciprocate the support they gave APC in the just-concluded elections, by trooping out en mass to vote Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje and APC candidates for the state House of Assembly come March 9.

     

     

  • Budget: We’ll consolidate on modest achievement – Ambode

    Budget: We’ll consolidate on modest achievement – Ambode

    …Gov Delivering On His Promises, Says Speaker

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday signed the N812.998bn Y2017 Appropriation Bill to Law, with a promise that it would be judiciously implemented to consolidate on the modest milestones recorded in the last 18 months and propel the State to a path of prosperity.

    The Governor, who spoke at a brief but impressive ceremony, held at the Lagos House, Ikeja, said the 2017 budget, christened, “Golden Jubilee Budget” was his administration’s contract with Lagosians to continue to build an all-inclusive economy throughout the year.

    The Governor thanked the Speaker and members of the House of Assembly for their forthrightness and speedy consideration and approval of the Appropriation Bill, which he presented to the House on November 29, 2016, and was passed to Law on January 3, 2017.

    He said the N812.998bn Y2017 budget was in line with the State Development Plan 2012-2025, the Medium Term Expenditure Framework for 2017-2019, based on the State’s Four Pillars of Development Plan which include: Infrastructure Development, Economic Development, Social Development and Security as well as Sustainable Environment.

    Governor Ambode, while assuring that his administration would immediately hit the ground running to implement the budget, expressed optimism that the national economy would begin a path of recovery this year.

    “We are encouraged by the budget performance of last year (2016) which stood at 78 percent. Our total Capital Expenditure in 2017 will be N507.816bn while Recurrent Expenditure is estimated at N305.182bn.

    “Our government is committed to prudent financial management and equitable allocation of resources for the general good and will ensure proper fiscal discipline in the implementation of this Appropriation Law,” Governor Ambode said.

    While alluding to the fact that obligations and duties of citizens like tax payments have become noticeably better, self-induced and encouraging, Governor Ambode sought the cooperation and understanding of all taxpayers to successfully implement the budget, saying that government would continue to strive harder to improve service delivery in all sectors.

    “We encourage all taxpayers to continue in this spirit and also take advantage of available multi-pay channels in fulfilling their civic obligations. Do not pay to touts or illegal channels. Make sure your tax payments count. We are doing everything to eliminate poor services to you,” he said.

    In his goodwill message, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, said the judicious implementation of the 2016 Budget by Governor Ambode, against all odds, has gone a long way to confirm his financial expertise.

     The Speaker, who was represented at the event by the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, said many laudable projects including the construction of 114 Roads across all the local governments in the state within a year was a first in the history of Nigeria.

    “That means by 2023, just in eight years, he would have done over 1,000 roads in addition to what the Ministry of Works and Public Works Corporation is doing.

    “Another area that is unbeatable is the ‘Light up Lagos’, which no doubt increases the economy of our mothers and fathers. That is in tandem with Article of Faith as entrenched in the 1999 Constitution, which summarily explains that the Governor is determined and committed,” the Speaker said.

    Earlier, Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade who gave a breakdown of the budget, said a total of N507.816billion has been earmarked for capital expenditure, while N305.182billion is for recurrent expenditure making up a total expenditure of N812.998billion and an aggregate capital to a recurrent ratio of 62:38.

    Ashade, who is also the Commissioner overseeing the Ministry of Finance, said Year 2017 budget which would largely be driven by Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) made up of taxes, rates, levies and others, would be focused on continuous promotion of massive investments in security, infrastructure, transport/traffic management, physical and social infrastructural development, environment, health, housing, tourism, power, e-governance, education, agriculture and skill acquisition.

    While explaining the sectoral breakdown of the budget, Ashade said a total of N141.692billion was earmarked for roads and other infrastructure, while Agriculture and Food Security got N4.795billion with Tourism and Environment getting N20.247billion and N24.031billion respectively.

    A further breakdown of the budget showed that Water got N20.082billion; Housing, N50.344billion; Health, N51.447billion; Sports Development, N9.457billion; Education, N92.445billion; Commerce and Industry, N1.500billion, Wealth and Employment Creation, N6.250billion; Women Affairs, N2.193billion; Youth and Social Development, N2.698billion; Governance, N11.193billion; Science and Technology, N11.000billion; Security, Law and Order, N39.722billion, while N3.800billion was set aside for the 7.5 percent Government Share to Pension Contribution and N7.150billion for Pension Redemption Bond Fund-Shortfall.

    On Transportation, Ashade said N49.077billion was earmarked for the Blue Rail Line, advancement of the 10-Lane Lagos-Badagry Expressway, construction of jetties and terminals especially for the Epe and Marina Shoreline Protection and procurement of ferries to improve on water transportation and encourage tourism, while also disclosing that attention would be paid to the expansion of BRT corridors in Oshodi-Abule-Egba, and other corridors.

  • Kaduna Assembly approves N214.9bn 2017 Budget

    Kaduna Assembly approves N214.9bn 2017 Budget

    The 2017 Kaduna state’s Budget of N214.9 billion has been passed into law by the State House of Assembly on Thursday.

    The figure is N1 billion less than the budget proposal forwarded by Gov. Nasiru El-Rufa’i to the assembly on Oct. 12, for approval.

    The Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Aminu Shagali, who read the content of the budget clause by clause, said N83.46 billion was approved for recurrent and N131.45 for capital expenditure.

    He said the budget would cover from now till Dec. 31, 2017.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Alhaji Ahmed Mohammed, later told newsmen that the N1 billion cut from the original proposal was from the expected revenue of two agencies.

    He said that revenue projection of the state Geographic Information System and Internal Revenue Service was reduced by N500 million for each of the agencies, “in view of current economic realities.”

    He assured that the assembly would monitor the implementation to ensure that it serve the people better.

  • Reps move to approve N208.8bn Virement  in 2016 Budget

    Reps move to approve N208.8bn Virement  in 2016 Budget

    The House of Representatives is set to approve the request for virement of funds in the Appropriation Act 2016 totaling N208.821 billion.

    This follows the submission of the report of the House Committee on Appropriation at plenary yesterday.

    While the requested Special Intervention in Recurrent Expenditure was N167,113,304,018 that of Capital was N39,208,367, 476.

    The request was sent to the Hon. Mustapha Bala Dawaki- headed committee on Appropriation on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 for further legislative inputs.

    While submitting the report yesterday Dawaki said the committee had met with relevant stakeholders.

    “The affected MDAs justified the need for intervention and approval of the virement.

    “The Committee observed that there are other areas of critical needs with potentials for development and stimulating the economy and for which additional funds could be provided through virement from the Special Intervention Program,” he said.

    The committee report shows a virement request from Service Wide Vote (SWV) for Public Service Wage Adjustment PSWA, (N71.8 billion);  SWV to Contingency N1.2billion); SWV to Margin for Increase in Cost MIC, ( N2 billion ); Ministry of Interior to Cadet feeding- Police Academy, Wudil, Kano ( N932.4 million); SWV to Amnesty Programme ( N35 billion); SWV to Internal Operations of the Armed Forces( N5.2 billion; SWV to Operation Lafiya Dole N13.9 billion.

    Others are Ministry of Youths and Sports Development, NYSC (N19. 792 billion; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Missions ( N16.3 billion); Federal Ministry of Education: augmentation of Meal/ Subsidy/ Direct Teaching & Lab Cost ( N900 million) and Statutory Transfer to Public Complaints Commission ( N2.5 billion).

    In the area of Capital component of the virement is the Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Airforce, NAF ( N12.7 billion); Capital Supplementation: Presidential Initiative for the North East, PINE (N1.5 billion) and Payment of local Contractors Debts/ Other Liabilities ( N25 billion).

    However, there was confusion in the manner of presentation of the report of the Committee in the Order Paper as it states that the report which came via a motion was titled: “Receipt and Approval of the request for the virement of funds in the Appropriation Act, 2016.”

    The motion was unanimously passed by members when it was out to a vote by the Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara.

    But the Chairman of the Rules and Business Committee, Hon. Orker Jev and the Minority Leader of the House, Leo Ogor cleared the air saying the request still has to be considered in the Committee of Supply before it is finally approved by the House.

    The Spokesman of the House, Abdulrazak Namdas also said in spite of the virement coming as a motion and its subsequent passage, it will still be considered by the whole House before its approval.

  • We are not aware of budget padding – Presidency

    We are not aware of budget padding – Presidency

    The budget padding controversy took a different turn on Tuesday as the Presidency denied knowledge of any padding in the budget presented to the President for his ascent.
    Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang and his counterpart in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ismail Kawu told newsmen in Abuja that the budget signed by the President which is being implemented was not a padded budget.
    Senator Enang, who spoke after over three hours meeting with the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said in legislative palace, there was nothing like budget padding, pointing out that when the a budget is presented to the National Assembly, it is expected that they deliberate and pass it as they deem fit.
    The former Chairman of the House committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumini Jubrin, had accused Speaker Yakubu Dogara, his deputy and two other principal officers of being the brain behind the budget padding.
    However, while the controversy rages on, a group lawmakers which identified itself as Transparency Group had accused the executive arm of government of not free from the blame either on the issue.
    Enang however, refused to give details of their meeting with the APC leadership, pointing out that they have all been asked not to make further public comment on the issue as the party was handling it as a family affair.
    He said: “I am here on the invitation of the leadership of the APC with my colleague to bring answers to issues raised by the party on the 2016 Appropriation and we have been with the party for a little over three hours. We have given explanations to them on every issue and told them that there was nothing, to our knowledge, like padding of the budget.
    “The budget as assented to by Mr. President is the budget as passed by the National Assembly and that is the budget being executed.
    “But as of now, the party is handling it as a domestic issue, and all of us are enjoined not to make public comment on the details because the matter is still under consideration.
    “So, that is what we will want to say for now, we will not want to go into the details of it so that we will not breach the ethics of the party, the directives of the party or pre-empt anything or any outcome of the party investigation.”
    Asked whether the Presidency was giving the Leadership of the House of Representatives a clean bill over the issue, he said “I will want to say that we came here as persons who works as liaison officers on the budget because the party had questions for us and we came to make clarifications on the issues raised.
    “We have made those clarifications and would not want to draw any conclusion. Please let us not go too far by mentioning any office. Let it be that the two of us appeared before the party.
    “In all our years of legislative engagement, we are yet to find in the legislative lexicon the word ‘padding’. When the budget is presented before the legislature, the legislature is to consider the budget and pass as they deem fit. So what the legislature pass becomes the appropriation upon accent. Therefore, any word which is yet to crystallize in legislative lexicon, you cannot hear us mention it.”

  • 2016 Budget to be passed March 17 – NASS

    2016 Budget to be passed March 17 – NASS

    The National Assembly has said  the 2016 Budget will be passed on Thursday, March 17.

    The Chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje and Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin in a joint press briefing Wednesday said reports from both chambers would be laid on Wednesday, March 16.

    On the 17th, the reports will be considered and passed.

    While speaking on the issue, Senate Chairman Appropriation, Goje said the two chambers have interacted with the various Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDA’s), adding that a lot of hard work had been put into the 2016 Budget proposals.

    His words: “The various sub committees of the two chambers have interacted with the various MDA’s, the Committees have produced their reports and all the Committees of the two chambers have fully submitted their reports.

    “We have been working very hard round the clock at the same time at the weekends and we will continue to do that until we finish the compilation of our reports.

    “The essence of the press conference is to give Nigerians a progress report.”

    Chairman House Committee on Appropriation Abdulmumin  Jibrin said the reports from the various sub committees will align with the National Assembly guidelines.

    He said: “After all consultation with the leadership of the House and Senate we can confirm to you that all things being equal we should be able to lay our report of the 2016 Appropriation bill before the House and the Senate on the 16th of March and the consideration, hopefully should be done on the 17th.

    “So it is safe for us to conclude that the 2016 Appropriation bill will be passed on the 17th of March 2016.

    “We are going to open in the next few days’ consultation with the relevant stakeholders in this process, most especially the executive arm of government.

    “Particularly in the case of the House, we are going to engage the Minister of Budget and Planning, Minister of Finance, DG Budget office.

    “Most importantly we are working hand in hand with the Senate and things are looking up, we are putting in our best on a daily basis.

    Recall that the Budget passage was previously postponed by the National Assembly because of various discrepancies discovered in the appropriation document by the two chambers.