Business
2014 Budget ’ll Top House Agenda On Resumption – Mohammed
The House of Representatives said that the 2014 budget would be given top priority on its agenda on resumption on January 21, 2014.
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Zakari Mohammed disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.
Zakari, in his pre- resumption address, also revealed that the resumption earlier scheduled for January 14 had been shifted to January 21.
He said that the shift became necessary due to the celebration of the Muslim Eid-el-Maulud on Tuesday January 14 as well as the Armed Forces Remembrance Day on January 15.
The House spokesman said that January 16 would be used for constituency outreach.
“We will look at the issue of the 2014 budget,” he said.
He said that the issue of 50 questions given to the Minister of Finance by the Finance Committee would also be treated.
“The finance committee was given a responsibility by the mandate of the House and the committee must report back to the House what it was asked to do.
“It is the House in its wisdom that will devise the next line of action; the finance committee has done the assignment given to it by the House.
“Definitely on resumption, the finance committee would brief the House and then from there, we draw conclusions and inferences,” he said.
He assured Nigerians that the 2014 budget would not be a case of “garbage in and garbage out”.
“We must consider the budget because it is a money bill, but we will not be blackmailed or bamboozled to just assume it is a case of garbage in, garbage out.
“Anybody who thinks it is going to be like that is just joking, because we are going to ensure a sense of fairness in its consideration to the benefit of Nigerians who are our employers,” he said.
On the constitution review process, he said that the review was on the last leg, adding that by June 2014 a new constitution was expected to be ready.
The lawmaker condemned the recent attacks on Sen.Ali Ndume and Sen. Magnus Abe, saying they were sad developments.
He called on the Federal Government and relevant agencies to investigate the matter and bring perpetrators to book.
Kenya made it a clean sweep at the Berlin Marathon with Sabastian Sawe winning the men’s race and Rosemary Wanjiru triumphing in the women’s.
Sawe finished in two hours, two minutes and 16 seconds to make it three wins in his first three marathons.
The 30-year-old, who was victorious at this year’s London Marathon, set a sizzling pace as he left the field behind and ran much of the race surrounded only by his pacesetters.
Japan’s Akasaki Akira came second after a powerful latter half of the race, finishing almost four minutes behind Sawe, while Ethiopia’s Chimdessa Debele followed in third.
“I did my best and I am happy for this performance,” said Sawe.
“I am so happy for this year. I felt well but you cannot change the weather. Next year will be better.”
Sawe had Kelvin Kiptum’s 2023 world record of 2:00:35 in his sights when he reached halfway in 1:00:12, but faded towards the end.
In the women’s race, Wanjiru sped away from the lead pack after 25 kilometers before finishing in 2:21:05.
Ethiopia’s Dera Dida followed three seconds behind Wanjiru, with Azmera Gebru, also of Ethiopia, coming third in 2:21:29.
Wanjiru’s time was 12 minutes slower than compatriot Ruth Chepng’etich’s world record of 2:09:56, which she set in Chicago in 2024.