President Goodluck Jonathan’s proposal to present the 2013 budget to a joint session of both arms of the National Assembly on October 4 was yesterday rejected by the House of Representatives.
In two parts, the Lower House hinged its rejection on its yet to be concluded probe into implementation of the 2012 budget and the yet to be adopted 2013-2015 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy (MTEFF) paper forwarded by the president.
Recall that the Lower House suspended next week’s plenary to enable its 90 standing committees undertake a status inquest into capital projects carried out by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies vis-a-vis monies appropriated on the 2012 budget.
Chairman, House Committee on Finance, Abudmumin Jibrin (Kano/PDP) whose committee was detailed to scrutinise the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy (MTEFF) paper, told lawmakers that even though preliminary examination of the document has commenced, it will be impossible for it to conclude its scrutiny before October 4.
He said at plenary, “Knowing the implication and importance of the document to the presentation of the budget by Mr. president, it is practically impossible to engage all the relevant government agencies involved with the document.
“We have to invite agencies like the Ministry of Finance, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and several others”.
Jibrin applied that the Lower House gives the committee more time to finish its assignment.
“The Committee will require additional time to conduct its investigation and knowing the implication of asking for an extension of time, the budget presentation by Mr. president would be affected,” he said.
SOURCE:28 September 2012.
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