• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Reps receives 2019 budget report

The House of Representatives Wednesday received the report of the 2019 budget from its standing Committee on Appropriation.

The report was laid by the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Mustapha Dawaki (APC, Kano) during plenary who did not announce the details especially with regards to the figures of the budget estimates.

According to the usual practice, the report shall be considered by the House and send to Senate for harmonization, concurrence and passage.

Also at the plenary, the House urged the President to direct the Minister of Finance to fully implement the 2018 Appropriation Act with regards to statutory transfers to bodies which are on first line charge including, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Niger Delta Development Commission, Universal Basic Education, the Public Complaints Commission and the National Human Rights Commission.

The House made this resolution following a motion of urgent public importance moved by Edward Pwajok(PDP, Plateau) on need for the Executive to respect the Constitution in respect of first line charges pursuant to order 8, rules 4 and 7.

In the motion, the House notes that: “the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended created and allocated separate powers to the three arms of Government namely: the Legislature, Section 4; the Executive, Section 5 and the Judiciary, Section 6.

“The three arms of government are co equal and meant to function independently in order to guarantee the smooth working of the
Government under the Presidential Constitution; .

“The Constitution was amended by the first Alteration Act, 2010 ACT No 1 by altering Section 81 (3) to place INEC, the National Assembly and the Judiciary on first line charge by stipulating that the amount standing to the credit of those agencies or arms of Government be paid directly to such bodies. These bodies are captured in the annual appropriation Acts under STATUTORY TRANSFERS.

“Worried that the Executive arm of Government is currently in breach of the Constitution by refusing or neglecting to implement the mandatory provisions of the Constitution regarding statutory transfers and first line charge requirements, by not releasing the funds to these bodies in line with the Appropriation Act 2018 and the Constitution.

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“Worried that in spite of a previous resolution of the House passed in 2018 on the above subject and the appearance of the Minister of Finance before an Ad Hoc Committee, the matter has remained unresolved.

“Disturbed by the implication of the brazen flouting of the Appropriation Act 2018 and the Constitution, which may make the Legislature and the Judiciary to become subservient to the Executive thereby negating the letters and spirit of the Constitution and the Law with dire consequences on the practice of democracy; the House resolves to:

“Condemn in strongest terms the breaches of the Constitution and the laws on the statutory transfers by the Executive with particular reference to the 2018 Appropriation Act.

“Urges the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to direct the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to immediately fully implement the 2018 Appropriation Act with regards to statutory transfers to bodies which are on first line charge namely; INEC, Niger Delta Development Commission, Universal Basic Education, the Public Complaints Commission and the National Human Rights Commission.

“Directs the Leadership of the National Assembly and the relevant Committees on Appropriation, Finance and Legislative compliance to ensure compliance and report back to the House within two weeks.Transmit this resolution to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for concurrence”.

Meanwhile the House has adjourned plenary to next Tuesday, April 23, 2019.