Why Senate delays FIRS budget 4 months after Buhari’s submission

Almost four months after President Muhammadu Buhari forwarded the 2016 budget of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to the Senate, lawmakers, on Thursday, failed to approve it.

The budget was forwarded to the Senate on Thursday, 21st July, 2016, by President Muhammadu Buhari. It was referred to the Committee on Finance for further legislative action on the 25th of July, 2016.

The Senate blamed its refusal to pass the N146 billion budget of FIRS on the shady exercise of the Committee on Finance. The committee is headed by Senator John Enoh from Cross River state.

Lawmakers also blamed it on ambiguous figures and questionable inclusion of capital projects, which they said have become a yearly ritual.

Senator Enoh’s committee is however expected to reflect on observations made by lawmakers in the report and report back within one week from yesterday.

While presenting the report of the budget, Senator Enoh explained the rationale behind the approval of some capital projects in the budget.

His explanation did not go down well with some lawmakers, particularly the Senate Deputy Leader, Senator Bala Na’Allah. Na’Allah who acted on behalf of Ali Ndume, moved that the report be stepped down so as to give the committee more time to correct the lapses.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in his intervention, frowned at the late submission of budgets of government departments and agencies, especially revenue generating agencies.

He warned that going forward, budgets of special agencies not included in the yearly budget, must be submitted not later than the first quarter of the year.

After his brief intervention, the Senate President thereafter, ruled and returned the report to Senator Enoh’s committee. The committee is expected to report back within one week.

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Also, the Senate failed to pass the Nigerian Sovereign Wealth Authority Act, 2011 Amendment Bill 2016. The report of the amendment bill was also presented by Senator Enoh-led Finance committee.

The lawmakers failed to pass the bill because of constitutional conflicts. According to the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who made the observation, it will be illegal to pass the amendment bill without first amending the constitution which stipulates how monies accruable to the Federation Account should be shared among the three tiers of government.

The report was subsequently suspended, pending when the National Assembly will conclude it’s ongoing constitution review exercise which is expected to address the conflicts observed in the report.

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