The Senate has expressed fears that the delay in the presentation of the 2011 Appropriation Bill by the Executive may result in the delay in its passage by the National Assembly.
Briefing journalists on Thursday, Senate Spokesman, Mr. Ayogu Eze, said although, there were discussions at different levels, it would be wise for the Executive to present the budget estimates as early as possible if it must be passed early.
“If they bring it (budget) late, we will pass it late,” he said.
He said since it would be an election year, the late submission of the 2011 budget would hamper legislative work on the bill.
He said, “We know that the process of discussion is ongoing, but once more, we are going to receive the budget late. Of course, you know it is going to come late, this is an election year and there are going to be a lot of activities.
“I think it will be desirable if the Executive can conclude work on the 2011 budget and bring it now because I know that at the end of the day, if there are delays, the National Assembly will be the one to be blamed. Nigerians are more comfortable blaming the National Assembly than blaming any other person else.”
He added, “But I think that we want to call on the Executive to speed up the action and see how they can bring the budget because if they bring it early, we will pass it early, and the problem of implementation and performance will also improve, because if it starts early, procurement processes will start early and everything will be on course.”
He said, “If they bring it late, we will pass it late because we are going to ensure that it is thoroughly scrutinised. I don’t think that we will move away from that. Any budget that is presented to us is properly scrutinised and this will not be different.”
Meanwhile, the President of the Senate, Mr. David Mark, has said that the National Assembly will pass the Petroleum Industry Bill with a content that is responsive to the needs of the industry.
Mark made the statement when he received the National Executive of the South-East, South-South Professionals in his office on Thursday.
Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011051293251
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