Our National Economy, Budget Execution In Chaos -Lawan

By: Nneka Amaechi-Nnadi, Abuja

The Senate yesterday scored the Executive arm very low on budget implementation, describing the current system as chaotic and in tatters.
The upper chamber of the National Assembly however called for a synergy between the executive and legislative arms of government to ensure that the budget cycle is restored to January – December calendar.
Speaking shortly after the Senate confirmed the nomination of forty-three ministers forwarded to it by President Muhammadu Buhari, Lawan expressed concern that nobody understands the economic situation of Nigeria.
He therefore charged the executive to ensure that it sets before the National Assembly the 2020 budget before the end of September or latest first week of October.
According to Lawan, that done, the Senate will work to ensure that the budget is passed before embarking on Christmas break.
According to Lawan, the extension of plenary by the senators to ensure that the ministerial nominees are screened clearly indicated that the lawmakers are ready to work with the executive, even as he urged the ministers who are confirmed to cooperate with the legislative arm of government by ensuring that the budget is implemented as passed in the parliament.
“Let our economy have predictable parameters and it is achievable. We should have an economy that is good for business both locally and internationally”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday announced the composition of its standing committees as it adjourned plenary to September 24.
Some of the committee chairmen are Senators Barau Jibrin (Appropriations), Ali Ndume (Army ), Dino Melaye (Aviation), Ibikunle Amosun (Capital Market), Ike Ekweremadu (Environment), Abubakar Kyari (FCT), Adeola Olamilekan (Finance), Ibrahim Oloriegbe (Health), Sikiru Oshinowo (Industry), Kashim Shettima (Interior),Teslim Folarin (Local content), Adedayo Adeyeye (Media and Public Affairs), BasseyAkpan (Petroleum Resources upstream) and Mathew Urhoghide (Public Accounts).