Why I didn’t present budget 2014 to National Assembly – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has explained why he decided to call off the 2014 budget presentation to the joint session of the National Assembly, citing the need for the two Chambers to harmonise the 2014-2016 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.
In a letter read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday, the President noted that the oil price benchmark passed by the House of Representatives is higher than that of the Senate, saying there was the need to comply with the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
After considering the MTEF/FSP, the Senate had passed oil benchmark of $76.50 per barrel for the purpose of the 2014 budget while the House passed a higher figure of $79 per barrel.
President Jonathan’s letter to the Senate reads:
“Please recall that I had written requesting the Distinguished Senate to grant me the slot of 12 noon on Tuesday, 19th November 2013 to enable me address a Joint Session of the National Assembly on the 2014 budget.
“However, considering the fact that, whereas the Distinguished Senate has approved the Medium Term Expenditure Framework based on a benchmark of $76.5 per barrel, the Honourable House of Representatives has used a benchmark of $79 per barrel, it is infeasible for me to present the budget in the absence of a harmonised position on the MTEF.
“In the circumstance, it has become necessary to defer the presentation of the 2014 Budget to a Joint Session of the National Assembly until such a time when both respected chambers would have harmonized their positions on the MTEF. It is my hope that this will be in the shortest possible time.”
Meanwhile, there is clear indication that President Jonathan will no longer present the 2014 budget to the Joint Session of the National Assembly.
Rather, he would “cause the budget to be laid before the National Assembly as soon as the harmonisation is concluded.”
Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, dropped the hint during a chat with State House correspondents.
Abati said: “The budget has been ready for over a week now, but since the two arms of the National Assembly are yet to harmonise their positions on the crude oil benchmark in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the Fiscal Strategy Paper, it was wise for Mr. President to wait until this is done.”
In accordance with the Section 81 of the 1999 Constitution, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, may now lay the budget before each Chamber.
Section 81 of the 1999 Constitution states: “The President shall cause to be prepared and laid before each House of the National Assembly at any time in each financial year estimates of the revenue and expenditure of the Federal government for the next following financial year.”