SAN FRANCISCO, November 07, (THEWILL) – The proposed presentation of the 2014 Appropriation Bill by President Goodluck Jonathan to a joint session of the National Assembly on November 12 was vehemently opposed, Thursday, by some members of the House of Representatives not satisfied with the implementation of the 2013 budget.
Led by Hon. Ali Madaki (PDP, Kano), the lawmakers insisted that the address of the president on the budget slated for next Tuesday be postponed pending a satisfactory implementation of the 2013 budget.
Trouble began when the Deputy House Leader, Hon. Leo Ogor, moved a motion to admit the president and his entourage in a joint sitting with the Senate on Tuesday, November 12 to present the 2014 budget proposal. After the motion was seconded; and as the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, moved to put the question, Madaki raised a point of order under matters of personal explanation.
Madaki in his explanation argued that the House should not receive the 2014 proposal until an appreciable state of implementation is attained.
He said the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) earlier submitted by the President to the House has not been considered and approved, insisting that the lawmakers should shift the presentation of the budget until further notice.
He warned: “We must not turn the budget into an annual ritual where the president comes and we make a ceremony and then the budget is never implemented. Let’s shift this budget presentation until we are convinced that this year’s budget is implemented at least 80 percent. We are not asking for 100 percent.”
Madaki’s submission was supported by Hon. Ben Nwankwo (APGA, Anambra),who argued that his motion seeking to review implementation of the 2013 budget two days earlier was dropped pending the outcome of the House completion of oversight on the extent of implementation; therefore, the budget presentation should also be put off. Hon. Friday Itulah (PDP, Edo) also explained that section 81 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that the President could lay the budget anytime within the financial year and the presentation can be suspended.
This opened a flurry of opposition as Hon. Raphael Nnanna (PDP,Imo) kicked against the motion, saying the presentation should not be stopped. Also opposing the motion, Hon. Warman Ogoriba (PDP, Bayelsa) submitted that there was no law barring the President from laying the budget. In his argument, Hon. Nkem Abonta (PDP, Abia) said the President should be allowed to present the budget and any other issue would be discussed during consideration.
When the matter was put to vote, the Speaker ruled in favour of the ayes, a decision which was challenged by Hon. Ben Nwankwo who called for division of the House into two. It took the intervention of the Deputy Leader and other lawmakers before Nwankwo withdrew his point of order.
Saint Mugaga, Abuja
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