The Senate has released a list of over 23 ministries allegedly frustrating the easy passage of the 2018 budget.
As a result, Bukola Saraki, the Senate President, has directed Chairmen of standing committees to submit reports of the 2018 budget to the Appropriation Committee without further delay.
However, a document marked “Committees 2018 budget status as at March 21, 2018,” listed Ministries Works, Land Transport, Finance and Science and Technology among 23 ministries and agencies that have failed to appear before its committees to defend their 2018 budget proposals.
Fashola is the minister of Power, Works, and Housing, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun Minister of Finance, Chibuike Amaechi is the minister of Land Transport while Ogbonnaya Onu is the minister of Science and technology.
Other ministries also listed in the document obtained by News Express include Culture and Tourism, Education (Basic and Secondary), Foreign Affairs, Health, Housing, Privatization, Solid Mineral, Sports and Youth Development and Tertiary Institution and TETFund ministries of Defence, Independent National Electoral Commission, Industry (Investment) Water Resources and National Planning, Office of the National Security Adviser, Office of Auditor General of the Federation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Ministry of Communications.
There were also indications that the Senate has concluded arrangements to pass the budget next months.
President presented the 2018 budget estimates to a joint session of the National Assembly on November 7, 2017.
Saraki asked the committee chairmen to take steps to submit their reports on 2018 budget to Senator Mohammed Goje led Appropriation Committee and gave March 29, 2018, as the deadline for the submission of the reports.
According to him, “This is to inform chairmen of all committees to as a matter of urgency, submit reports of their various committees on the 2018 budget to the chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation.
“The reports should be submitted beginning from Thursday, March 22, 2018, to Thursday, March 29, 2018. I urge lawmakers to take this assignment very seriously.”
Saraki’s order is coming less than 24 hours after President Buhari directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, to submit details of their 2018 budget estimates to the appropriate committees of the National Assembly not later than Friday, March 23.
Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, issued the directives in a circular made available to reporters in Abuja.
The letter said: “It has come to the attention of Government that a number of Agencies, Corporations, and Government-owned Companies have not fully complied with the provisions of Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, FRA, 2007.
“Agencies are reminded that the FRA 2007 provides that consequent upon laying of the summary of budget estimates of Agencies listed in the schedule to FRA alongside the National Budget by Mr. President, it is required that details of such budgets be made available to the National Assembly for consideration and passage.”
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