The final copy of the 2016 budget was at press time being previewed by the leadership of the Appropriation Committees of the National Assembly and a number of ministers designated to undertake the exercise by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sources close to the process told the Nigerian Tribune that the meeting, meant to review the final copy of the budget, kicked-off at 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday, adding that the meeting was to ensure that all items agreed to were intact before the presentation to the president.
The source said the National Assembly and the executive were working together on the matter, adding that the budget would be signed during the week.
“I can tell you that we have received a copy of the budget for preview.
The two groups are meeting at about 4.00 p.m. Because it was to be consensual, ministers will look at what they have done so that it will be agreed fully that this is what will be presented.
“What we have received may not be the final copy, but we want to preview it to ensure what we are forwarding to the President,” the source said.
On whether the promise that the president would still assent the budget this week, the source said the vice-president was the head of the economic team, adding that the assurance would be kept.
A source in the legislature said the task before the executive and the parliament was to present a workable budget to the country.
The source also denied the claim that the National Assembly had reduced the alleged padding from N500 billion to N70 billion, adding, however, that the areas of differences were being worked on.
“They (the differences) are being eliminated one by one and Nigerians will be happy when the budget is passed. They are being eliminated and reduced. It will be a budget for Nigeria made by Nigerians.
“I don’t even know which one is padding. I am not aware of N500 billion padding, not to talk of reducing it to N70 billion.
“We want to make sure that it is done properly, so as to keep each other’s powers intact.
The executive has its powers, very enormous. The small powers of the legislature is preserved.
So, in matters like these, it is the legislature that is the oga. So, the executive have to respond.
We are the ones begging them to pass budget,” he said.
(Tribune)
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