Drama in Senate as 2014 Budget resurfaces

Drama in Senate as 2014 Budget resurfaces
Drama ensued in the Senate on Thursday as the 2014 budget proposal of 52 agencies appeared in Order Paper for consideration.
The drama began when the Senate Leader, Senator Abdul Ningi, read the proposal of 2014 Budget for consideration on the floor of the Red Chamber.
However, many senators were amazed over the proposal as most of the agencies have already appeared before various standing committees of the Senate for the 2014 Budget defence apart from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The budget came in respect of the request of the National Assembly according to the Fiscal Responsibility Act that all agencies must submit their budget to the National Assembly for consideration.
But senators argued that most of the agencies have appeared before the Committees of the Senate to defend their budgets.
They said what they are expecting now is for President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the budget and begin its implementation.
Senator James Manager said that most of the agencies have appeared before the committees of the Senate.
Manager said the only isolated case was that of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Raising point of order, order 26/6, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe said that the Senate has dealt with the matter of the 2014 Budget and there is no need going back to it again.
In his response to the issue, the Senate President, Senator David Mark, explained that the problem with the proposal is that the Committee on Rules and Business should have sieved some agencies that have been appropriated for by the National Assembly from the 52 agencies before the committees begin work on it.