Budget brouhaha forces Senate to set up Reform Committee

The confusion that trailed the budget in the present administration has forced Senate to set up a budget Reform Committee.

The President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, while inaugurating the committee on Monday, charged it to review budget processes in the country, expressing concern that budget processes in the recent times have been marred with different irregularities.

According to Saraki, the reason for setting up the committee was hinged on the need to find a new and better way for effective execution of future budgets.

He said, “One of our major functions is the passage of the annual budget. Over the years, the National Assembly and executive have expressed dissatisfaction that come with the budget.

“Following the last budget exercise and in line with our legislative agenda, we are taking a decision to review the budget processes and see how best we can improve on it. This is not new but the only difference this time is that we hope we will be able to complete it.

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“It has been said in the past that we have not been able to review our budget processes. It is my belief that the 8th National Assembly will make this happen. It is a fact that annual budgets are yet to be fully aligned with our development goals, from conceptualisation, approval, to implementation.

“There is a need to continue to reform our budget for continuity and efficiency, hence the need to revisit the process.’’

 “It is expected that the committee will work within the time frame to come up with a budget bill that close the structural and procedural gaps that will lead to transparency.”

The chairman of the committee, Senator Ali Ndume, assured that the committee will not fail to achieve the reason for which it is set up.

By Ebere Ndukwu …