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Tension as Senators, Reps tackle leadership over budget details

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Tension as Senators, Reps tackle leadership over budget details

Members of the National Assembly, like President Muhammadu Buhari are asking questions why the details of the 2016 budget, were not made known, but seemingly being hoarded by the leadership of the National Assembly.

Reports filtering in suggest that many of the legislators, asides members of the appropriation committees, and the leadership of both chambers, are not privy to the details of the appropriation bill.

President Buhari has said he would not sign the bill into law, unless the details are made available by the National Assembly.

It was gathered that most Senators and Reps were only given a summary of the budget, and every attempt by them to get the details met brick walls.

Read also: Buhari vows to scrutinise budget, ministry by ministry

One principal officer who spoke on condition of anonymity on Saturday, said “Senators and Representatives are split on the 2016 budget. As I talk to you, most Senators and Representatives have not been given the details of the budget. What the Appropriation Committee made available to each chamber was the summary.

“Only a few privileged members of the committee or favourites have access to the details. So, the President was right in insisting on the details before signing the budget into law. He has the backing of some Senators and House of Representatives.

“How can I be a Principal Officer without access to the details of the budget? Some of us are being reduced to passengers in the administration of the National Assembly”.

Another high-ranking Senator said: “It is true that we don’t have the details but we are watching the development. Some Senators are unperturbed because they want everything to collapse.

 

“This unhealthy politics on budget details may lead to a deeper crisis among us.”

 

 

 

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