Posted on: 08:46 Thu, 28 Jan 2016



The Senate yesterday fixed February 25 for the
passage of the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

The bill scaled second reading in the Senate.

The bill was committed to the Committee on
Appropriation to coordinate budget defence by
ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of
government.

Senate President Bukola Saraki warned senators
against financial inducement in the course of
budget defence by MDAs.

Saraki said any lawmaker involved in
unwholesome conduct in the course of budget
defence would not be spared.

On the general principles of the budget, Saraki
said 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.

He said: “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.”

Saraki said the Senate would also take a look at
the issue of benchmark and various budgetary
allocations, where most senators expressed
concern.

He assured that the National Assembly would
also work towards blocking areas of revenue
leakages as well as look into the issue of fight
against corruption.

He added: “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.

“The committees should scrutinise 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.”

Saraki urged committees to do a thorough job to
compliment the effort of President Muhammadu
Buhari.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on
Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje, while
briefing reporters after plenary, said the Senate
would adjourn today to allow for budget defence
to take off.

Goje said after today’s plenary, the senate
would break into sub committees from February
2 to receive MDAs for the defence.

He said all MDAs and sub-committees were
expected to conclude their budget defence by
February 16
Goje added that submission and defence of
reports of sub-committees on Appropriations
would take place between February 12 and 18,
while collation and harmonisation of reports, and
drawing of bill by the Appropriations Committee
would be done between February 18 and 22.

He said 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 intention 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.