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Another clash imminent as Senate threatens to pass 2018 budget without inputs from MDAs

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Another clash imminent as Senate threatens to pass 2018 budget without inputs from MDAs

The Senate, on Wednesday, said it will pass the 2018 budget without submissions from many Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

The threat followed an observation by the vice chairman, Senate committee on Appropriation, Sunday Ogbuoji.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, had asked Ogbuoji who stood in for the chairman of the committee, Danjuma Goje, to tell the Senate the position of the 2018 Appropriation Bill,.

Ogbuoji informed the Senate that majority of MDAs refused to turn up for their budget defence as required by law. He noted that due to the failure of the MDAs to appear for budget defence, the budget report that could have been presented for consideration was not ready.

The senator said: “Majority of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies are not coming forward to interface with the standing committees. Some of the ministers will tell you they have a team, they are going outside the country and because of that, the MDAs are not fully ready.

“So we don’t have the reports yet. We believe that when the MDAs come forward, our colleagues will be able to finish their work. Some of the committees are unable to do their work. When they screen what they have brought, they will ask them to go back to us but they don’t come back.

“That is really delaying the work for majority of the standing committees and that is why up till today, we don’t have a comprehensive report.”

Saraki who expressed dismay over the attitude of the MDAs, said the Senate was prepared to conclude the process of the 2018 Appropriation Bill to ensure its early passage. He noted that the perception is that the National Assembly was delaying the budget when the contrary is the truth.

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Saraki said: “It is our intention to see that this process can be concluded as early as possible. But Senate Majority Leader will communicate and get in touch with the Executive arm of government so that these MDAs can be told to play their part to ensure that this exercise can be completed because unfortunately the perception is it is parliament that delays these things.

“I appeal to all these ministers and Managing Directors that keep on travelling, this is a time for you to sit on ground and ensure that you finish this report.”

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, while contributing, said the Senate should use the budget presented by President Muhammadu Buhari to pass the bill.

Ekweremadu said the Senate should not continue to wait for the MDAs endlessly while Nigerians were suffering.

Senator Philip Aduda said it should be clearly stated that the MDAs were responsible for the inability of the National Assembly to pass the budget.

 

 

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