Some of the senators in their contributions maintained that unless there was a drastic downward review of the entire budget size, the oil benchmark and the exchange rate, the Federal Government may end up, embarking on an exercise in futility.
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He expressed confidence that the budget would be the pivotal means to the “change” promised by Mr. Buhari-led All-Progressives Congress government.
Leading the debate, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume said the budget would promote economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction and service delivery to all Nigerians, urging his colleagues to support the document.
The date was announced by the Senate President and we agreed that each and everyone of us should indicate the date we want to talk on the budget and the budget will be distributed to us before that day.
“The problem we have is that over the years we have seen prosperity and we have adjusted to it and now we are seeing a downward trend in our revenue, but we still don’t seem to be addressing this issue”.
In the House of Representatives, a deft handling of the matter by Speaker Yakubu Dogara helped to make short-lived a disagreement at the commencement of plenary yesterday.
“I submitted a draft bill accompanied by a schedule of details”.
Other sources speaking to the news agency said the area which required amendments were not outlined in the president’s letter.
He assured Nigerians that the lawmakers would pass the 2016 budget on time.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki had accused Presidential aide, Ita Enang of smuggling a “fake” budget into the chambers, insisting that the Senate would only consider the document submitted by President Buhari to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 22, 2015. In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. Rising on a constitutional point of order, Minority Leader, Leo Ogor, immediately sought to halt the process.
The overall figures remain unchanged, Senate President told the senators.
Akande said: “The president is the president of the nation and not of a particular political party only”.
He also said that after the budget presentation, the finance minister has not come to explain the details of the budget which is normal practice.
Last week, Nigerian newspapers were awash with stories about the budget going “missing” or having been “stolen”, followed by speculation that two versions were floating around.
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“In exercising our constitutionally given mandates, we should eschew partisanship”, the Speaker said, stressing that Nigerians were awaiting the passage of the budget as their livelihoods depended on it.
