Senate Carpets Agencies Over Expenditures Outside Budget

The Nigerian Senate has expressed concern over the failure of government agencies to submit their 2017 budget proposal to the National Assembly in line with  the provisions of the extant laws.
Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah ?who drew the attention of his colleagues to the abnormality during plenary yesterday, pointed out that it was wrong for agencies to spend money that had not been appropriated by the legislature.
Na’Allah told the Senate that he intends to bring the issue to the floor as a motion so that Senators will understand the implications and the need to assist the government to fight corruption.
Na’Allah therefore recommended that the Senate  assists this government in fighting corruption, by  insisting  that gross abuse of power and misuse of power must be stopped by every government agency.
The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, while ruling on the point of order, expressed displeasure over the failure by most government agencies to submit their 2017 budget proposals to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
The Senate President condemned the practice where agencies of government spend money without statutory approval by the National Assembly and ruled that the issue be debated today with a view to taking a resolution.

Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja