Senate concludes debate on 2016 budget
The Senate yesterday passed the 2016 Appropriation Bill for second reading after concluding debate on the general principles of the bill, which started on Wednesday last week.
Thereafter, the Senate also committed the document to its Committee on Appropriations, to coordinate the budget defence by the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government.
Consequently, the Upper Chamber will embark on two weeks working recess from today, to allow the relevant standing committees of the Senate thoroughly scrutinize the budget of the MDAs as contained in the Appropriation Bill.
Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, in his remarks shortly after the conclusion of the debate on the bill, warned the senators against financial inducement in the course of the impending budget defence.
He vowed to deal with any lawmaker found to be involved in any form bribery in the course of budget defence which would commence on Jan. 28, as the current assembly would not tolerate conducts capable of undermining the integrity of the Chamber.
He said the move became necessary to preserve the integrity of the National Assembly and to continue to win the confidence of Nigerians.
Speaking on the general principles of the budget, Saraki noted that the proposal was a major departure from past budgets, particularly with regard to withdrawing focus on oil as major revenue source for funding the budget.
“This to me and to all of us is the most important area of this budget in the sense that it will be a great foundation not only for today but for the future if this can be achieved.
“Also, with the pegging of Capital Expenditure at 30 per cent, a number of comments were made about the level of borrowing but I think what matters is what the money is used for.
“As of the percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP), we are still within the limits and parameters but what is important is to ensure that the money is judiciously used for what it is meant for,’’ he said.
On diversification, Saraki said the National Assembly would take a critical look at the budgetary allocation to the agricultural and solid mineral sectors, as they are potential revenue earners if effectively explored.
He said the senate would also take a look at the issue of benchmark and various budgetary allocations, where most senators expressed concerns, saying that the Chamber would ensure equitable distribution.
The President of the Senate said that the assembly would also work towards blocking areas of revenue leakages and also look into the issue of fight against corruption.
“It is important that the issue of blocking leakages is key and from the experience of the past we must learn from the past to work towards the future.
“There were lots of talk in the issue of fighting corruption and the need for the relevant agencies to be adequately funded and I am sure the relevant committees will look at that.
“The committees should scrutinize these estimates and ensure that they are estimates that we can all put our names to.
“The Zero budgeting of which the budget is premised on means some of the projects would be critically assessed to ensure that the projects were justified,’’ he said.
He called on the various committees to do a thorough job to compliment the effort of the President.
He urged the committees to work within the stipulated time for the budget defence and make their reports available to the Committee on Appropriations.
The president of the Senate pledged the National Assembly’s commitment to empowering the committees for proper oversight functions so as to facilitate judicious implementation of the budget.
Also, the Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje, while briefing journalists after plenary, said that the Senate would adjourn today to allow for budget defence to take off.
He said that after today’s plenary, the senate would break into sub committees from February 2, to receive Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) for the defence, saying that all MDAs and sub-committees were expected to conclude their budget defence by Feb. 16
Goje further noted that submission and defence of reports of sub-committees on Appropriations would take place between 12th and 18th February, 2016, while collation and harmonization of reports, and drawing of bill by the Appropriations Committee would be done between 18th and 22nd February.
He said that the report would be laid before the Senate on February 24 while the Senate would consider and approve the budget on Thursday, February 25.
Goje explained that the intension of the Senate was to ensure early approval of the budget, so that the executive arm would have at least ten months to implement the document.
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