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Senate Sends 2017 Budget To Presidency, Today …Debates FRA Violations
The Senate, yesterday, said the 2017 Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly will be transmitted to the Presidency for assent latest by today.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, yesterday, said the National Assembly delayed transmission of the bill as the document was still undergoing legislative processes after it was passed last Thursday.
The National Assembly had, last Thursday, passed the 2017 Appropriation Bill, with budget estimates totalling ¦ 7.441trillion.
The passage followed the consideration and adoption of the report by the Senate and House of Representatives’ Committees on Appropriations on “a bill for an act to authorise the issue from the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation of the total sum of ¦ 7,441,175,486,758.”
After passing the budget, Thursday, the Senate had adjourned plenary for 10 minutes, resumed and adopted the votes and proceedings of the last session.
At the plenary, yesterday, the Senate adopted the “Votes and Proceedings 2” of the last legislative day.
The Senate’s spokesman, however, explained that there were more legislative processes on the bill before it could transmitted to the Presidency.
Sabi-Abdullahi said, “We passed the budget last week Thursday. Let us get this very clear: after a budget is passed, the appropriation committee must do authentication. The authentication means that it is not any document that should fly around; there must be something that will show that this is the main budget that we passed. If you are familiar with our procedures, you will see that the budget always carries some signatures.”
Meanwhile, the Senate has fixed, today, to debate cases of violations of Fiscal Responsibility Act by some Federal Government’s revenue-generating agencies.
The decision followed a Point of Order by the Deputy Leader of the Senate, Bala Na’Allah, at plenary, yesterday.
He said that revenue-generating agencies of government had refused to submit their 2017 fiscal proposals to the National Assembly, contrary to regulations.
Presenting the order, Na’Allah said that it was his responsibility to collate the agencies’ budgets and submit to the chamber for consideration, but said that he was yet to receive the proposals.
He said that the proposals ought to have been submitted to him by the agencies since September 2016.
“I am the one responsible for the collation of reports and we have not received one single report regarding the budget of parastatals, which were supposed to have been given by September 2016.
“I want to put it on record that we have not received any report. I don’t know whether the chairmen of committees have received.
“The Senate must rise and fight every form of corruption in the country,’’ he said.
The deputy leader of the senate said that the chamber was determined to support the Federal Government in the fight against corruption by ensuring that individuals and agencies obeyed relevant laws.
“I decided that I will bring this on the floor so that senators will understand the implication.
“In our commitment to assist this government to fight corruption, we must stamp our feet that every spirit of our laws must be obeyed by those holding public office.
“The only approach that this Senate can adopt to assist this government in fighting corruption is to insist that gross abuse of power and misuse of power is stopped.
“The only way we can build institutions is to radically address the issue of abuse of power and misuse of power,’’ he said.
After Na’Allah’s submission, the lawmakers said that the refusal of the agencies to do the needful was a violation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and would not be tolerated.
It resolved to come up with a motion on Wednesday to “comprehensively debate on the matter and take a decision on the alleged illegal operations of the establishments’’.
In his remarks, President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, said that the senate must take the matter seriously and ensure that institutions of government respected the laws of the land.
He condemned the practice where agencies of government spent money without statutory approval by the national assembly and ruled that the issue be debated and the resolution taken on Wednesday.
“This is a very serious issue because as we all know that in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, these things are meant to have been submitted since August 2016 and was to come with the 2017 Appropriation Bill.
“We have now passed the budget and there is no report from the agencies.
“I think this matter really needs to come as a motion because it’s a very serious matter.
“We need to debate it because we are already in May and how can parastatals be operating without any budget, especially in this time of fight against corruption.
“We need to take this matter seriously because clearly, these agencies are just flouting the guidelines and breaking the law.
“If as at middle of May, we have not received any budget from them, which money are they spending and with what authority?
“We need to look into that and take a decision that may be, they can only pay salaries until they bring their budgets here and approvals given,’’ Saraki said.
He stressed the need to address the issue and put an end to continuous disregard for laws in the country.
Happy Birthday Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike CON
Honourable Minister Federal Capital Territory
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We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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