Lawmakers at the two chambers of the National Assembly (NASS) have postponed the passage of the 2016 budget indefinitely over allegations of inflated figures therein.
The lawmakers’ decision was announced by the Joint National Assembly Committee on Appropriation headed by Senator Danjuma Goje and Rep Jibrin Abdulmumini.
Specifically, Rep Abdulmumini said the passage of the budget, originally slated for February 25, was postponed in order to enable the lawmakers address issues of paddling and over bloated overhead costs that surfaced during defence by the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
“We are here in connection with the ongoing processing of the 2016 budget defence and because these two committees are the ones saddled with the production of the final copies of the budget that would be passed by the two chambers for onward submission to Mr. President for his assent and subsequent implementation.
“Because of the observed instances that are being reported from the beginning of the budget submission there are a lot of controversies surrounding the budget. We feel that we have to come here, interact with you, make some clarifications so that Nigerians will know the correct situation of things regarding the 2016 budget.
“We designed a timetable for the consideration and passage of the budget and by that particular timetable that we will pass the budget on February 25, 2016 but as you are all aware, a lot of issues have come up, and gladly so even the executive arm of government has also come out to accept the fact that there has been a lot of errors in the budget.
“So, in summary, the timetable for the passage of the budget is no longer realistic because appropriation committees of both chambers of the National Assembly need additional time to be able to do a thorough job for the 2016 budget. The Joint Committees on Appropriation wouldn’t like the budget to be thrown back to it based on some ambiguities. We want to remove all ambiguities. We want to produce a budget that is in line with the constitutional requirement,” he said.
