Mohammed Shosanya
The Federal Government of Nigeria has waded into the controversy of alleged budget padding by the 10th National Assembly.
Last Tuesday, the Red Chamber suspended Abdul Ningi, senator representing Bauchi central, for alleging that the 2024 budget was padded by N3 trillion said that the N28.7trn 2024 Appropriation Act was padded to the tune of N3.7trn by the legislature, noting that his findings revealed no tangible projects link to the amount injected into the budget by lawmakers.
The allegations which lasted for three hours on the floor of the Red Chamber culminated in the suspension of Ningi, after he failed to apologize to his colleagues.
The Federal Government through the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu said the federal lawmakers did no wrong, insisting that while the right to transmit a budget is that of the executive arm, it is the legislature’s duty to review same and make input in the interest of the nation.
The Minister,who spoke at a press conference in Abuja said, “The president submitted a budget to the tune of N27.5 trn and the National Assembly, in its wisdom, increased it to N28.7 trn. When we presented the budget, it was at an exchange rate of N750 to a dollar but the Assembly increased it to N800 to a dollar. That created more revenue.
“The Assembly also appropriated that the Government Owned Enterprises contribute more revenue. Then there was the increase of the budget of the judiciary, legislature and executive.
“The President in signing the 2024 Appropriation Act acknowledged that in democracy, institutions have their power and the National Assembly has the last word.
“The evolution of constituency projects and projects by National Assembly members, which did not begin now but since 1999, is a reflection of the challenge that elected persons are facing.”
He further recalled how former President Umaru Yar’ Adua of blessed memory, had approached the Supreme Court seeking the interpretation of Section 80 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), lamenting however that the case was later settled out of court.
He added:“There has been a long debate and a former President went up to the Supreme Court to define the appropriation power of the executive and the National Assembly.
“Later, there was an out-of-court settlement. Till now, this issue has not been resolved. So, what is the power of the National Assembly as regards the budget? There is no Supreme Court judgment and the choice of our democracy is that the National Assembly has the last word. Even when they pass an appropriation that assent is refused, after 30 days it becomes law.”
On whether the National Assembly has the powers to increase budget estimates, the former Kebbi State Governor simply said “Yes,” maintaining that it is all part of the checks and balances provided for in the presidential system of government.
