The National Assembly Tuesday debunked speculations that the 2016 budget was missing, and assured that the Senate and the House of Representatives are in the process of making copies of the money Bill available for the 109 senators and 360 members of the House.
The lawmakers added that they are determined to pass the bill as soon as possible.
Describing the speculations of a missing budget as laughable, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Abdullahi Sabi, said the contents of the 2016 budget were carefully drafted to enhance and drive the change agenda of the present administration.
He added that the senators were eager to pass the budget so that implementation would commence immediately so as to deliver the dividends of democracy to the electorate.
It was reported exclusively that deliberations on the 2016 budget would kick-start next Tuesday and that this week would be used to make copies available to lawmakers.
The Senate spokesman said, “There is no such thing; it is laughable for anybody to insinuate that the 2016 budget is missing; it is the figment of the imagination of those carrying such rumour.
“We, as a Senate, are presently concentrating on making copies of the budget available to every Senator. We are getting ready to commence deliberations on the budget and we are enthusiastic and looking forward to a quick passage so that the President would commence implementation in such a way that the electorate would begin to reap the dividends and benefits of democracy.
“So it is not true that the budget is missing; it is rumour. We deal with facts here and the fact is that no budget is missing,” Senator Sabi declared.
President Muhammadu Buhari had submitted the 2016 budget to a joint session of the National Assembly on December 22, 2015.
Shortly after the presentation, the National Assembly proceeded on a three-week end of the year and Christmas break.
But there were speculations Tuesday that the 2016 budget was missing from the National Assembly.
In a related development, the leadership of the House has denied the story of 2016 budget theft from the National Assembly doing the rounds, saying that the original copy of the Appropriation Bill as presented to NASS was intact and with the management of the Assembly. The House also said that the reproduced copies of the budget will be distributed to members Wednesday ahead of the consideration of the estimates at the various committee levels beginning next week.
The spokesman of the House, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, said last night through his deputy, Hon. Jonathan Gaza Gbefwi, that the rumour of budget theft or missing was unthinkable, wondering why it was fabricated in the first place.
“The budget is intact and, in fact, they even plan to begin to distribute copies to members tomorrow (today) to begin to analyse; so wherever that (rumour) is coming from, I don’t know. So, it’s all a lie,” he said.
Another source in the House told our reporter that the rumour of budget theft may not be unconnected with the alleged plans by the Presidency to retrieve the document in order make some corrections.
The source added that all the allegations remain ‘in the realm of rumour.’
Buhari, Saraki meet privately
President Muhammadu Buhari met Tuesday with Senate President Bukola Saraki behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The visit by Saraki is coming at a time that the 2016 budget document had been reported as missing in the National Assembly.
Buhari presented the 2016 budget proposal to the National Assembly just before the lawmakers embarked on their Christmas recess.
After the meeting with the President for about 30 minutes, Saraki declined comments when asked by State House Correspondents about the report that the budget was missing.
Missing Budget: Presidency again denies withdrawing 2016 budget
The Presidency has once again denied withdrawing the 2016 budget proposal from the National Assembly.
Reacting to a report that the budget is missing from the National Assembly, Senior Special Assistant (Media) to the President, Malam Garba Shehu said nobody except the President can withdraw the budget.
He asserted that once the budget is submitted, it ceases to be the property of the executive adding that inquires about the budget should be directed to the appropriate quarters.
Shehu pointed out that hundreds of copies of the budget had been submitted to both chambers of the National Assembly.
He said, “Nobody except the President can withdraw the budget. As far as we know, he hasn’t done that. The copies in their hundreds have been delivered to both chambers of the National Assembly.
“By tradition, once the budget is submitted, it ceases to be our property. Enquiries as to where it is should be directed to the appropriate quarters,” he added.
2016 is a year of transparency and delivery – Saraki
Senate President Bukola Saraki Tuesday declared the commitment and patriotism of the present administration yielding the deserved results in the fight against insurgency, stressing that Nigeria is exponentially gaining victory over insurgency with a promise that Boko Haram would not be allowed to take over any Nigerian territory again.
The Senate President made this remark at the resumption of the Senate from its three-weeks’ break, adding that the Senate will work assiduously with the executive arm of the government to ensure the rehabilitation of the traumatized people of the North East region from the serious attacks and killings of millions of innocent Nigerians.
Senator Saraki stated that 2016 must be seen as a year of transparency and delivery with focus on the economy in such a manner that would guarantee the well-being of the people at all levels, adding that the 8th Senate would work with the executive arm of government to find solutions to economic stagnation, wastefulness, discrimination and unemployment.
According to him, “Loyalty to the defence of our fatherland, their untiring efforts is the reason for the increased tranquillity evident in recent time. It is indeed heart-warming that we are exponentially gaining victory over Boko Haram and terror in our society.
“Never again shall we be held hostage and our territory annexed to terror. This Senate will be working together with the leadership of the executive to begin the process of rebuilding the North East and rehabilitating the traumatized victims of terrorism in our country.
“You would recall that in June 2015, after the elections, we started the journey to change the way we make laws by seeking to set for ourselves priorities and aspirations designed to ensure that the activities of the 8th Senate impact,” Saraki declared.
“Our vision is to substantially enhance the economic well-being, liberty and safety of our people. It is my earnest hope that the period of recess just concluded has afforded us all more opportunity to reflect on this enormous task ahead as we now enter into the business end of delivering on our agenda. 2016 must be the year of transparency and delivery.”
According to him, the lawmakers must demonstrate to the Nigerian people who put them in office that they were working in their interest to ensure a progressive and inclusive national development plan.
“The overarching objective of our agenda remains to work with the executive arm to find solution to economic stagnation, wastefulness, discrimination, unemployment, insecurity, corruption and impunity. We cannot afford wastages.”
He called for the support of senators, saying: “We cannot do it alone; we need your cooperation especially on information and we will play our part. It is on this balance of efficacy and accountability that I wish the Senate to be judged in 2016.
“A Senate in slumber cannot meet the aspirations of a restless nation. A Senate sealed from those whom it is accountable to cannot legitimately ask for their trust,” Saraki declared.
-Leadership