Reps Begin Debate On 2014 Budget

L-R: An economist with World Bank, Miss Halima Zama, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Head, Private Sector and Finance, World Bank, Mr Michael Wong and Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Chief Moses Adeyemo, during the visit of World Bank’s Team to the governor in Ibadan, yesterday

The House of Representatives yesterday commenced debate on the general principles of the 2014 Appropriation Bill after adopting  the report of its six-man committee on the matter.
The Majority Leader, Rep. Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP-Oyo), who led the debate, urged members to put away individual differences and consider the budget for passage.
“As representatives of the people we must put individual differences away and look at national interest,” she declared.
The Deputy Minority Leader, Rep. Abdurrahman Kawu (APC-Kano), said that proposals in the 2014 appropriation bill were in sharp contrast with the provision of the law.
He said that in spite of promises to device ways of increasing capital expenditure, the government continues to increase recurrent expenditure which has little or no impact on the lives of his people in Kano.
According to him, the 2014 appropriation bill tends to cater more for the militants than the country’s national security agencies.
He said that N63 billion was expected to cover stipends and allowances of 30,000 Niger Delta militants, reintegration of transformed ex-militants and amnesty programme.
Kawu said the total capital budget allocated to the Ministry of Defence, Nigeria Army, Navy, Air Force and Police formations is pegged at N41.08 billion.
“We must ensure that we compel all government officials, including ourselves to make sacrifices on behalf of our people who had long been starved of social safety net by reducing the recurrent expenditure and frivolous spending that accompanied this 2014 appropriation bill.
“We must ensure that 2015 politicking does not distract us from playing our oversight role on this budget,’’ he said.
Rep. Rafeeqat Onabamiro (APC-Lagos) said that the allocation to the military was inadequate considering the current security challenges facing the country.
Rep. Ganiyu Olukolu (APC-Lagos) said that the rate of increase in domestic debt was alarming, and suggested the education of MDAs on Internally Generated Revenue.
Rep. Karimi Sunday (PDP-Kogi) decried the paltry sum allocated to the education sector in spite of the demands by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) for improved welfare.
He enjoined members to ensure that the Road Sector Reform Bill was passed to address the problem of deplorable roads in the country.
The debate was adjourned to Wednesday when more members would make their contributions.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has directed the Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to submit to the House, estimates for 31 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), insisting that the submissions should be made available before the conclusion of consideration of the budget.
This directive was given after the House adopted the recommendations of the report of a six-man committee it set up to determine whether the executive had complied with extant rules in submitting the budget proposal to the National Assembly.
The House on January 4, constituted a six-man committee to advice it on the propriety of continuing debate on the budget based on issues of breach raised by Rep. Emmanuel Jime (APC-Benue).
Jime in his motion had urged the House to reject the budget as laid by the executive for non-compliance with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.
Presenting the report, Rep. Albert Sam-Tsokwa (PDP-Taraba), the chairman of the committee, said that the section 21 Jime relied on does not in any way contradict section 81 of the 1999 Constitution.
Section 81 required Mr President to be prepared and lay before the National Assembly the Appropriation Bill.
It also required that in complying, the minister should ensure that the budget estimates of 31 government corporations be attached to the bill.
Sam-Tsokwa said that Jime’s point of order was well founded and sustainable but advised the House to continue with the consideration of the budget in the national interest.
“Hon. Jime’s point of order is well founded and sustainable. However, considering national interest, the House of Representatives should proceed with the consideration of the 2014 Appropriation Bill.
“The Minister of Finance is requested to comply fully with the mandatory provisions of Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act before the conclusion of consideration”.
In a remark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal said that the report would further guide the House in passing the budget.
He noted that many members allowed their personal interest to becloud national interest.
Tambuwal enjoined members to moderate their utterances on the floor of the House as they contribute to national issues.
The speaker maintained that based on the importance of the Bill, the House would proceed with the consideration but added that, the minister should comply with the provisions of the Act.