Senate resumes, summons Adeosun, Udoma over 2017 budget implementation

Ministers will soon face the Senate, to give their accounts of stewardship on the implementation of the 2017 budget.

This revelation was made on Tuesday by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, while welcoming his colleagues from a two-months break.

Saraki said chairmen of all the standing committees have also been mandated to up their game and carryout effective oversight functions of MDAs, to ensure that the 2017 budget is fully implemented.

He said: “By the first week of October, we expect to begin the review of the implementation of the 2017 budget. To set the stage for this, we expect to invite the Ministers of Finance and Budget Planning to come and brief the Senate on implementation so far. Nigerians want to see a more significant improvement in the level of implementation of the budget this financial year.

“Let me therefore use this opportunity to call on all our standing committees to begin the process of putting together their oversight plan for a close and proper review of the performance of the 2017 Budget.”

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“I will like therefore to see the committees demonstrate proactivity and readiness to engage government to ensure that at least a significant portion of our annual budget is fully dedicated to local procurement. All committees of the Senate must be involved in this and find better channels to engage our people and enable feedbacks.

“In the fight against corruption, aside the bills we have passed, it is important that we also sharpen up our oversight tools to ensure that government remains accountable always. However, I urge us all to more than ever, operate above board ourselves. In the last two years, we have successfully exposed numerous cases of corruption in our agencies and officers of government and as a result saved government enormous amount of public resources,” he added.

On Constitution Review, he said, “As we work to even make our Constitution better, it must be remembered that Constitution review is a continuous process which we must undertake with the vision of the future in our minds. The process we have already will continue in earnest with the meeting of the speakers of the various state Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly with a view to moving forward with the process. As promised, we will revisit and consider areas of the Constitution we believe will further strengthen our federation and enable our collective dream for a more prosperous Nigeria”.

Saraki welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari back to the country, after his medical vacation in London. “Let me on another winning note and on your behalf welcome Mr. President who has acknowledge his return to office through an executive communication earlier within the period of our vacation back to the saddle. We pray that the almighty Allah will continue to grant him full restoration”, he said.

 

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