NASS to receive 2015 supplementary budget next week

The Federal Government may transmit the 2015 supplementary budget to the National Assembly next week.

This is the outcome of the meeting between President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the National Assembly on Wednesday.

It was gathered that some of the issues discussed during the closed door meeting include submission of the 2015 supplementary budget, 2016-2018 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) as well as screening and confirmation of ministerial nominees.

Senator Ighoyota Amori (PDP, Delta Central), had told BusinessDay that the Senate would look into non-implementation of the N556 billion capital expenditure in the N4.493 trillion 2015 budget, just as the House of Representatives had set up an ad-hoc committee for the same purpose. 

A member of the lower legislative chamber who spoke on condition of anonymity said the supplementary budget is to address some of the lapses observed in the N4.493 trillion budget signed by former President Goodluck Jonathan.

According to the lawmaker, Buhari told the National Assembly leadership that the 2016 budget proposal is still being worked out by the National Planning Commission (NPC) and other relevant agencies responsible for the management of the nation’s economy.

Meanwhile, the Senate, during the consideration of the report on Ad-hoc Committee on Legislative Agenda, called for full implementation of the Fiscal Act which stipulates September ending for the submission of MTEF to the Legislature.

In addition, the report called for deadline for submission and passage of the Appropriation Bill, as well as defence and budget proposals by Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Ali Ndume, chairman of the Committee,  said this would ensure that the budget is passed in record time to allow for total implementation from January 1st till December 31 yearly. 

The Senate also resolved to tackle the declining economic base of the country by giving needed support to the development agenda of the Federal Government in the areas of: diversification of the economy, remittance of all monies due to the Federal Government into the Federation Account, legislative plugging of all financial leakages, development of infrastructure, power and rural electrification, health, education and agriculture among others.

The report also revealed that the following laws, bills and reports would be revisited: Petroleum Industry Bill; National Conference report; Constitutional Amendment bill; National Poverty Eradication Commission bill; strengthening of all law enforcement and regulatory agencies including EFCC, ICPC. 

The Senate has also set out conditions for the screening ministerial nominees, scheduled to commence on Tuesday next week.

Dino Melaye, Senate spokesperson, said, “We developed two modalities for the screening of the ministerial nominees. The first criteria is using constitutional provisions as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) as a fundamental procedure for the screening of ministerial nominees.

“And we will be considering Section 147(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and Section 147 is very clear. 147(1) says that: ‘There shall be such offices of the Ministers of the government of the federation as may be established by the President;

2) says”….Any appointment to the office of Minister of the Government of the Federation shall, if the nomination of any person to such office is confirmed by the Senate, be made by the President;…”

(3) Any appointment under (2) of this Section by the President shall be in conformity with the provisions of Section 14(3) of the Constitution, provided that in giving effects to the provisions as aforesaid, the President shall appoint at least one minister from each state who shall be an indigene of such state”.

While urging nominees to submit 150 copies of their resumes each latest by Monday, Melaye said the upper chamber would also screen the would-be ministers with Order 120 of the Senate Standing Orders which mandates nominees who have held public offices in the past to submit evidence of assets declaration.

In the same token, Senate President, Bukola Saraki has charged the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions to consider all petitions against ministerial nominees before commencement of screening next week Tuesday.

This comes as ministerial nominees have started submitting their Curriculum Vitae at the National Assembly ahead of the screening.

Saraki’s order was sequel to a petition by Senator Danjuma Lar (PDP, Kaduna South) at Thursday’s plenary against a ministerial nominee, Aisha Mohammed.

According to the Senator, the female nominee hails from Gombe State by brith but married to an indigene of Kaduna State.

This brings to two, the number of petitions received by the upper chamber; the first being against former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

KEHINDE AKINTOLA & OWEDE AGBAJILEKE