The House of Representatives has warned Standing Committees against the increase of the 2021 budget, hence they are required to work within the envelope of Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as proposed by the Executive.
President Muhammadu Buhari had on October 8, presented the 2021 budget estimates to a joint session of the National Assembly with total expenditure pegged at N13.08 trillion.
The House in heeding the call by Buhari to ensure prompt passage of the 2021 Appropriation Bill to sustain the return to January – December budget cycle, on Tuesday, commenced budget defence with MDAs after suspension of plenary to November 24.
In the 2021 Appropriation Bill Guidelines issued by the House Committee on Appropriations to Sub (Standing)
Committees obtained exclusively by BusinessDay, the Green Chamber insisted that there should be no movement of funds from capital to recurrent expenditure while the movement of funds may be allowed within capital proposals.
Recall that the House during debate on the general principles of the 2021 Appropriation Bill (budget) insisted that capital projects needed to be given more funds so as to address the infrastructural decay in the country.
Out of the N13.08 trillion 2021 budget, an aggregate sum of N3.85 trillion is proposed for capital projects while non-debt recurrent costs are allocated N5.65 trillion.
The 2021 Appropriation Bill Guidelines stated that: “Sub-committees should endeavour to conclude their work and submit the same to the Appropriations Committee on schedule (as per Time Table).
“Sub-Committees of both Chambers should harmonize their positions before submission of their reports. In the event of any disagreement, the Appropriations Committee will decide for them.
“Sub-Committees should understand that the Appropriations Committee would take decisions for any Committee that fails to submit its report within the scheduled time.
“Hon. Members of the Appropriations Committee will be assigned to Sub-Committees.
“Zonal Caucuses will be advised on the threshold of Zonal Intervention Projects and to ensure that Hon. Members submit their projects to the Secretariat.
“The Committee may only adjust up to a maximum of 5% ( harmonized position) of the budget of any MDA as may be appropriate, subject to guidelines as in 1 above”.
The House may also pass the 2021 Budget on 3rd December 2021 when reports by the Appropriations Committee will be presented in plenary as indicated in the Draft Time for the Consideration of the 2021 Appropriation.
According to the Time Table sighted by BusinessDay, budget hearings/engagements with MDAs by Appropriations Sub-Committees would last between 16th October and 6th November, while public hearing on the Appropriation Bill would hold from 9th – 10th November 2020.
The Time Table further indicated that submission and defense of budget reports to the Appropriations Committee hold between 11th and 18th November and the collation/harmonization of reports by the Committee is from 19th November – 2nd December 2020.
