Senate Begins Debate On 2014 Budget, ’Morrow

L-R: Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Tunji Bello, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Lateef Ibirogba and Chairman, Ifelodun Local Development Area, Mr Shuaibu Ajidagba, during the monitoring of environmental sanitation exercise in Lagos last Saturday.

Just as indicated on resumption by the Senate President, David Mark, the Senate would tomorrow commence debate on the N4.6trillion Appropriation Bill, which President Goodluck Jonathan had proposed for 2014 fiscal year as one of the topical issues on the Senate’ agenda.
Sensitising the lawmakers on the budget consideration, the Senate last week opened a register for registration of the names of senators who would want to make contributions during the three-day debate which will take the entire three legislative days this week.
Senate President, David Mark, who announced this following a letter from the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, told his colleagues to prepare for a robust debate that would ensure effective and efficient 2014 budget.
Just before the Senate went on end of year and Christmas break, Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan, presented the 2014 budget to both chambers of the National Assembly on different occasions which may not be unconnected with the then disagreements between both chambers over the appropriate benchmark for crude oil.
At last Tuesday’s plenary, Senate also referred the names of the Service Chiefs nominated by President Jonathan to its committees on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force, for screening.
The Senate President gave the Joint Committee on Defence, Army, Navy and Air Force one week to submit their reports, urging the committees to expedite legislative actions on it.
Similarly, the Senate referred nomination of Umaru Farouk Ahmed from Katsina by President Goodluck Jonathan for appointment as a member of the governing board of Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) to its Committee on Works, charging them to carry out legislative action on it and submit report in one week also.
Earlier, Senator Kabiru Gaya (APC, Kano Central) under Order 53, faulted the appointments of the Service Chiefs, and assigning of portfolios to them by President Goodluck Jonathan before the Senate’s confirmation but was over-ruled by the Senate President.
The Senate Committee on Police Affairs also presented its report on an investigation of  the alleged rape of a two-year old infant by a police corporal, Anthony Onoja, at Mararaba area of Nasarawa State.
The Chairman of the committee, Senator Paulinus Nwagwu laid the report before the Senate for consideration.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja