By Nuel Suji – The Senate on Wednesday asked President Muhammadu Buhari to submit budget of Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation and 36 others not later than two weeks.
The decision was sequel to a motion sponsored by Deputy Senate Leader, Bala ibn Na’Allah over non submission of 2017 budget by Public Corporation in violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
He said that non-compliance to the provision of the Fiscal Responsibility Act constitutes abuse of power and economic sabotage by the concerned government agencies.
Speaking in support of the motion, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu expressed dismay with non-compliance with fiscal responsibility Act by the government agencies.
Ekweremadu said,”This constitution is supreme and its provisions shall have a binding force on all authorities and persons throughout the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It goes further in section 80(2) that money shall be withdrawn from the consolidated revenue fund of the federation except..
“We are here talking about responsibility of governance. There cannot be any hard responsibility than Fiscal Responsibility because that is the beginning of all evils, we must begin to ensure that we live by the laws we make for ourselves.
“If we say that ministers are supposed to send the estimates of various agencies under them with the appropriation act of each year that has to be done.”
In his remarks, Senate President, Bukola Saraki said,”Truly this motion is at the heart of this fight against corruption and it is very important as we seem that independent revenue, the amount of money independent revenue even exceeds how much we get on oil revenue.
“So, is a huge amount to our revenue line and even we are talking about we are looking for money to fund projects, hospitals, education etc, this is where the source of the revenue are and I cannot see how we can continue in a society where we are fighting corruption where people will be spending money without approval, without appropriations, it must stop, it will stop and is going to stop from now.
“Clearly we have made our position that based on this amendment this agencies they must get their budget to us in two weeks and committee chairmen I want to appeal that once we get the budget on our own part as well let’s ensure that we do it public, very diligently and try and turn it around as quick as possible,” he added.
