2014 budget: Reps ask Okonjo-Iweala to submit estimates

The House of Representatives on Tuesday directed the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to submit to the House estimates for 31 Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
The submissions should be made available before the conclusion of consideration of the budget.
This directive was given after the House adopted the recommendations of the report of a six-man committee it set up to determine whether the executive had complied with extant rules in submitting the budget proposal to the National Assembly.
The House on January 4 constituted a six-man committee to advice it on the propriety of continuing debate on the budget based on issue of breach raised by Hon. Emmanuel Jime (APC-Benue).
Jime in his motion had urged the House to reject the budget as laid by the Executive for non-compliance with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.
Presenting the report, Hon. Albert Sam-Tsokwa (PDP-Taraba), the chairman of the committee, said that the Section 21 Jime relied on does not in any way contradict Section 81 of the 1999 Constitution.
Section 81 requires the President to be prepared and lay it before the National Assembly the Appropriation Bill.
It also required that in complying, the Minister should ensure that the budget estimates of 31 government corporations be attached to the Bill.
Tsokwa said that Jime’s point of order was well founded and sustainable but advised the House to continue with the consideration of the budget in the national interest.
He said: “Hon. Jime’s point of Order is well founded and sustainable.
“However, considering national interest, the House of Representatives should proceed with the consideration of the 2014 Appropriation Bill.
“The Minister of Finance is requested to comply fully with the mandatory provisions of Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act before the conclusion of consideration.”
In a remark, the Speaker, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, said that the report would further guide the House in passing the budget.
Tambuwal noted that many members allowed their personal interests to becloud national interests.
Tambuwal enjoined members to moderate their utterances on the floor of the House as they contribute to national issues.
The speaker maintained that based on the importance of the Bill, the House would proceed with the consideration but added that the minister should comply the provisions of the Act.