We can tinker with the Budget without Presidency’s imput – Senators

Senators on Tuesday said the budget can be re-jigged behind the scene after second reading without any withdrawal from the Presidency.
President Muhamadu Buhari had on December 22, 2015 submitted the 2016 budget to the National Assembly.
However, the budget proposal has been generating reaction in various quarters on the budgetary proposal for the Presidency.
In a separate interviews with senators on the issue,‎ the lawmakers explained that budget proposal is not sacrosanct, adding that it can be re-jigged behind the scene by the President.
The Senate Leader, Senator Mohamed Ndume, said: “It is impossible to withdraw the budget.
“It is not a document that you can just write and say you are withdrawing it.
“The budget proposal that has been laid at a joint session of the National Assembly cannot just be withdrawn like that.
“Budget proposal is not a document that is sacrosanct.
“You can adjust it and this is why it is before us.
“During the budget defence, it can be adjusted if need be‎.”
In his own view, Senator Kabiru Gaya explained that the adjustment can be done while the budget is being considered.
Gaya said: “I don’t think it has been withdrawn but whatever the case is, the figure of the entire budget will not change.
“It is possible that some of the roads may not have been reflected in the budget.
“If the figure under the subhead is not defined, then he has the right to readjust it and bring it back to us.
“The adjustment can also be done even while we are still discussing the budget.
“Once the main figure does not change, it is possible to make the adjustment.
“Both chambers of the National Assembly will, for instance, tinker with the figures, especially as it affects overheads.
“If we are cutting 30 per cent from the National Assembly budget, then it has to be done  pro rata.
“We must cut 30 per cent across the agencies, the ministries and all other government parastatals.
“There are duplication of figures like purchase of computers.
“When all the duplications are discovered, it is necessary to take them out.”
Also, in chat with newsmen, the Senior Special Assistant to President on National Assembly‎ (Senate), Senator Ita Enang, said: “To my knowledge, the budget as laid by Mr. President on the 22nd of December, 2015 is still with the National Assembly and has not be withdrawn.
“There is always a communication and budget is not a sensitive thing that it cannot be dealt with behind the scene.
“It can be worked on behind the scene after second reading.
“It is after second reading that the different committees meet.
“But it has not been read a second time.”