The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Virement

  • National Assembly, Executive meet over virement, others

    THE approval to vire N242.205 billion for the 2019 general elections from the constituency projects under the Service Wide Vote allocation in the 2018 Appropriation Act, may set the National Assembly and the Executive on a collision course.

    Though President Muhammadu Buhari had  urged the National Assembly to vire the fund from the N578.31 billion inserted by federal lawmakers for constituency projects, the National Assembly members did the exact opposite.

    The lawmakers still have a statutory N100 billion, which the parties collectively agreed on.

    The two chambers of the National Assembly had on resumption approved the virement of N242.205 for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and five security agencies for the 2019 general elections.

    Yesterday, the  Senate and House of Representatives were in a closed door meeting with the Executive.

    Mustapha Dawaki, Chairman, House Committee, The Nation gathered, was at the State House yesterday to explain to the Presidency the approval to vire the N242 billion from the Constituency project allocation under the Service Wide Vote as contained in the 2018 Appropriation Act.

    Present at the meeting were Deputy Speaker Yussuff Lasun, House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila and Senate Leader Ahmad Lawan and Senate Minority Whip Philip Aduda.

    From the  Executive side were Minister for Finance Zainab Ahmed, Minister for Budget and National Planning Udo Udoma,. Director General, Debt Management Office Ms Patience Oniha and Director General of Budget Office Ben Akabueze.

    Others are Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly (Senate) Senator Ita Enang and Senior Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly (House) Suleiman Kawu.

    Lasun, in an interview with reporters, said: “Ordinarily, this is a meeting we always hold behind closed doors. He excused reporters and security agents, saying the subject to be discussed was sensitive.

    It was, however, learnt  that the meeting was to discuss the $2.7 billion eurobond and contentious virement.

    The Nation also learnt that issues concerning the welfare of lawmakers viz-a -viz the impending elections  was also discussed.

  • Buhari seeks virement of N228.9b for 2019 polls

    Who gets what

    • INEC N189.207b
    • ONSA N4.2 b
    • DSS N12.213b
    • NSCDC N3.573 b
    • NPF N30.541b
    • NIS N2.628b

    President Muhammadu Buhari has  asked the National Assembly to vire N228,854,008,215 from the N9.12 trillion 2018 budget to fund the 2019 general election and other critical projects.

    Buhari specifically told the National Assembly to vire the N228.9 billion from N578,319, 951.904 billion total projects sum it inserted into the 2018 budget.

    This is contained in a presidential memo dated 11 July, 2018 read yesterday by Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki.

    If approved, the virement, entitled “Request for virement and supplementary 2018 budget”, will cut deep into the controversial constituency projects funding for 2018.

    The President said that the aggregate cost of the 2019 elections is estimated at N242, 445,322,600.00

    Of the amount, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to receive N189.207 billion. The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) will get N4.2 billion.

    The Department of State Services (DSS) is to receive N12.213 billion. The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) will get N3.573 billion.

    The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) is to get N30.541 billion. Immigration Service (NIS) will receive N2.628 billion.

    The letter reads in part: “As you are aware, the 2019 general election is scheduled to be conducted early in 2019. To ensure that adequate arrangements are made for free and fair elections, it has become necessary to appropriate funds to enable the relevant agencies to commence preparations.

    “INEC and security agencies have accordingly recently submitted their requests. These have been subjected to the usual budget evaluation. The aggregate cost of the elections is estimated at N242,445,322,600.”

    “However, in the light of prevailing fiscal constraints, I am proposing that the sum of N164,104,792,065.00 be provided for through virement or supplementation of the 2018 budget.

    “I propose that the balance of N78,340,530.535.00 mostly related to personnel allowances, fueling and other costs not required until the election proper, be provided in their 2019 budget.

    “The proposal for the 2019 General Elections are summarised below:

    “You will also recall that when I signed the 2018 Appropriation Act, I indicated the need to request the reinstatement of certain cuts made to certain critical projects provided in the original Executive Bill.

    “I am therefore submitting for your consideration the reinstatement of the most critical of such cuts totaling N64,749,216,150, which are summarised in page 1.

    “The total amount required to be provided for in the 2018 budget for the 2019 General Elections and to restore the identified critical projects to the amount earlier proposed is therefore N228,854,008,215.

    “Implementing a budget of N9.12 trillion for 2018 will be extremely challenging and, therefore, I do not consider it expedient to propose a further increase to the size of the 2018 “Expenditure Framework to fund these very important and critical expenditure items

    “Accordingly, I invite the Distinguished Senate to consider, in the national interest, reallocating some of the funds appropriated for the new projects which were inserted into the 2018 Budget proposal totaling N578,319,951,904 to cover the sum of N228,854,008,215 required as noted above.

    “A schedule setting out a comprehensive list of these inserted projects is attached to this letter for ease of your consideration.

    “Further to the above kindly find attached the Supplementary Budget and Virement proposal for your consideration

    “While hoping that this request will receive the expeditious consideration of the Distinguished Senate, please accept. Mr. Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

    In the NPF proposal, feeding of police dogs is to N166,315 million during the 2019 elections;

    N143,782 is to be spent on medical and general expenses for the dogs.

    There is N7,719.4 for feeding of 50 horses belonging to the police.

    Senators are gearing up to oppose any virement that would affect their constituency projects.

    One of the lawmakers insisted that the proposal would be “hard to approve because it seems that the whole thing is targeted at ensuring that we count for nothing”.

    The senator, who spoke anonymously “because we are yet to debate the presidential letter”, said President Buahri should “come clear if actually he is talking about supplementary budget”.

    He noted that “there is a world of difference between virement of funds and supplementary budget”.

    It was not yet clear yesterday when the Senate will discuss the presidential request.

    Members of the National Assembly are to go on their long vacation next week.

  • Reps set to approve N208.8b virement

    Reps set to approve N208.8b virement

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

    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  Dawaki- headed committee on Appropriation  November 16 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 potential for developing and stimulating the economy and for which additional funds could be be provided through virement from the Special Intervention Programme,” he said.

    The committee report showed 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  capital component of the virement are the Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Airforce- N12.7 billion; Capital Supplementation: Presidential Initiative for the Northeast-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 stated 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 put to 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 approval.

  • 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.

  • Our embassies national embarrassment, says Minister

    Our embassies national embarrassment, says Minister

    Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyema, has  described Nigerian embassies as a national embarrassment.
    The Minister painted a gloomy picture of the embassies while defending the N14.6 billion virement request his ministry made to the National Assembly.
    He told the joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation that the virement should be approved to bail out the embassies.
    “Most of you should be aware because you have visited some of the embassies. The situation is a national embarrassment. The situation is bad, it is horrible and should be addressed. School fees are not paid. In some cases electric bills are not paid. It is actually a national embarrassment,” the minister stated.
    A member of the committee added that he visited France recently to learn that the local staff were being owed salaries for eight months.
    The committee wanted the minister to confirm that if approved, the virement would address the problems of the embassies.
    Onyema said that the fund would go a long way in addressing the problems of the embassies.
    He requested that the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be denominated in dollar to prevent the issue of fluctuation of the Naira.
    The Budget and National Office objected to the request saying that such denomination of the budget in dollar would create problem for budgeting process.
    Onyema was also asked what his ministry does with the money embassies make from visa application and others.
    The minister said that the money is usually remitted to the consolidated revenue fund of the country.

  • ‘Virement’ not unconstitutional, says Chime

    The Enugu State Government has dismissed as baseless and legally untenable, allegations by some members of the State House of Assembly loyal to the former Speaker, Eugene Odoh, that the government breached the constitution when it applied the process popularly known in the public service as “virement” to reallocate funds in the 2012 budget.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Sullivan Chime, Chukwudi Achife said those making the allegations were either ignorant of the law and the facts surrounding the matter, or were merely blackmailing the government for ulterior reasons.

    Achife contended that there was nothing unconstitutional about virement, more so when the House had approved the adjustments made by the executive in that year’s budget.

    The CPS said after the 2012 appropriation bill was signed into law, government saw reasons to reallocate and duly, by way of a supplementary bill, applied to the House for approval.

    The CPS said the supplementary bill, which neither added nor removed any money from the original budget of N76. 4 billion was approved by the House, adding that the executive also reflected the supplementary bill in the 2013 budget, which the House passed without question.

    He said: “It is shocking that legislators could claim that a supplementary bill, which they had passed, was forged even when the Bill is a public document that anyone can access.

    “It must be emphasised that not one kobo was added or removed from the original budget, the supplementary budget was basically an application to reallocate funds within the original budget as had been passed by the House. How it becomes unconstitutional certainly defies reason and the law”.

    Achife urged the public to discountenance such false claims, noting that some ‘habitual detractors of the Governor who had been championing the claims, would be disappointed to learn that they have been dissipating energy unnecessarily’.