2017 budget will be passed before April ending, Senate Leader assures

There are strong indications that the 2017 Appropriation Bill will be passed by both chambers of the National Assembly on resumption from the Easter recess, before the end of April, 2017.

All the 109 Senators and members of the House of Representatives who embarked on Easter recess on Tuesday, 10th April, 2017 are expected to resume on Tuesday, 25th April.

Speaking on the status of the 2017 budget proposal, Senator Ahmad Lawan, leader of the Senate, affirmed that the budget would be passed this month, as the Appropriation Committees of both chambers intensified efforts to compile reports of various sub-committees.

He expressed optimism that all the Standing Committees would have complied with the directives on the submission of reports to the Appropriation Committees, within the timeline given by the leadership of both chambers.

“I want you to understand very clearly that nothing has affected the processing of the budget by the National Assembly.

“This was our desire that when you have to deal with over 100 committees between the Senate and House of Representatives, when you have to deal with over 30 ministries and over 500 agencies of government, the variables can be so difficult to predict.

“But we as the National Assembly, we wanted to pass the budget by the second week of March but we have been working on it. Our committees on Appropriation have been very busy but we couldn’t pass it in March as we desired and wanted to, but we are still working on it and it is our desire to pass it in April by the grace of God,” Lawan assured.

While pledging the National Assembly’s support for the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, Senator Lawan (APC-Yobe), assured on the passage of critical bills before both chambers, including the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill. He likewise rallied support for the implementation of the recently launched Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).

“We have finished with the National Transportation Bill and it is in the House for concurrence. The Petroleum Industry Governance Bill was laid last week and we will consider the report when we come back from the Easter recess by the grace of God.

“You are a witness to the passage of the Electoral Act 2010 and we are determined to ensure that we do whatever is right, so as to support the executive arm of government.

“The Senate and indeed the National Assembly is focused in ensuring that we support Mr President in his economic transformation of Nigeria. You recall that President Muhammadu Buhari launched the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, it is our desire and commitment and expectation that we will not only support the ERGP through legislative intervention but also continue to support the President, whether as individuals or as an institution.

“We are supposed to propagate and give maximum support for the President to succeed in the recovery of the economy,” the Senate Leader affirmed.

Others Senators and members of the House of Representatives who spoke separately with BusinessDay, also confirmed the resolutions of both chambers to fast-track the passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill before the 2016 Appropriation Act elapses on the 5th May, 2017.

One of the ranking members of the House of Representatives who spoke under conditions of anonymity, disclosed that all the standing committees of both chambers have already harmonised their reports.

He added that the harmonised version of the report would further be presented and passed on the floor of both chambers when the lawamkers resume from the two-week recess slated for25th April, 2017.

“I wish to correct the misgivings in some tabloids, that the budget was put on hold because of the Easter recess. Such information was ill-conceived and misleading.

“By the tradition of Parliament, when such legislative framework of utmost national importance is before the Parliament, we sacrifice every other assignment for it.

“Are they expecting all the 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives to sit in one room and be scrutinising the budget documents already worked on by the Standing Committees which also serve as sub-committees of the Appropriation?

“This is not a civil service affair, but as you know, the power of Appropriation belongs to the Legislative arm of government and necessary cautions have to be taken to avoid the pitfalls the past, hence the resolve of the leadership of both chambers to do due diligence and reduce those tendencies,” he stressed.

On his part, Jide Olatunbosun (APC-Oyo) and member of the House Committee on Appropriation, who spoke with BusinessDay, confirmed that members of the committee unanimously resolved to shelve the recess in the interest of the national interest.

“We are not going on Easter recess because of the budget. Of course, all the standing Committees have concluded their assignments and submitted their reports to enable us conclude in good time,” the Oyo lawmaker noted.

 

KEHINDE AKINTOLA & OWEDE AGBAJILEKE