The 2020 national budget, Xenophobic Attacks, among other issues are expected to top discussions as the Nigerian Senate resume on Tuesday, after their eight- week annual recess.
The Senate had embarked on recess on July 30, after screening and confirming all the 43 ministerial nominees sent in by President Muhammadu Buhari. The recess, according to Senate President Ahmad Lawan was to enable the lawmakers to assess their constituencies, intimate the people of progress on constituency projects and evolve proactive measures that can impact rapid development to the electorates.
However, while the recess lasted, several national issues that required urgent legislative attention came to the fore which the lawmakers are expected to tackle and proffer measures to how best they can be resolved.
Among the many issues, the Senate is expected to discuss Xenophobic attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.
Scores of Nigerians were attacked in South Africa, property worth millions of naira destroyed in the attacks.
Nigeria’s minister of foreign affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said even though the attacks are unacceptable, the federal government would not severe diplomatic ties with South Africa on this basis – though citizens expect an urgent solution, possibly through decisive legislation.
The senate committee on foreign affairs, chaired by Senator Bashir Ajibola had met with the minister of foreign affairs and the Director-general of the National Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri Erewa, to initiate ways to evacuate the victims.
Up until now, the federal government is yet to announce any decisive policy on the attacks. As Senate resumes, it is believed that discussions would be based on how the federal government can liaise with the South African Government to end the acrimony.
The 2020 budget which is already being prepared is also expected to receive an accelerated attention when finally submitted by President Buhari for appropriation.
Senate President Lawan had assured on delivering a January-December budget cycle and is expected to lead the legislature to pressurize an early submission of the budget to the NASS for on-time passage.
Lawan is of the view that if the change to January-December budget circle is effected, it would eradicate the unnecessary delays the National Budget always experiences in the defence processes by Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAS, as part of the budget screening process by the National Assembly.
Also on the table for discussions would be the Federal Government’s plan to increase the Value Added Tax, VAT, from 5 to 7.2 per cent.
The Senate Committee on Finance has already invited the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, and the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Babatunde Fowler, over the issue.
The Senate had raised concerns that the proposed VAT increase could negatively impact the living standards of Nigerians and further weaken demand and the economy, in terms of reducing disposable incomes of citizens.
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