Senate Kicks Over Failure of NNPC, FIRS, Others to Submit Budgets

The Senate has expressed concern over the failure of Government
agencies to submit their 2017 budget proposal to the National Assembly
in line with extant law.

Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na'Allah who drew the attention
of his colleagues to the abnormality during  plenary on Tuesday, said
it is wrong for agencies to spend money that has not been appropriated
by the legislature.

Prompt News Online reports that over 30 federal government agencies
are in breach of the law. They include: NNPC, CBN, FIRS, NIMASA, NPA,
Customs, others.

Na'Allah told the Senate that he intends to bring the issue to the
floor as a motion so that Senators will understand the implications
and the need to assist the government to fight corruption.

"I deliberately decided that I will bring it on the floor, so that
Senators will understand the implications," Na'Allah said.

"In our commitment to assist this government to fight corruption, we
must stand on our feet that every spirit of our law must be obeyed by
those holding public offices. I think that if you permit me I will
like to come tomorrow by way of motion, so it can be debated on the
Floor of the Senate."

Na'Allah added that "The only approach this Senate can take to assist
this government in fighting corruption, is to insist that gross abuse
of power and misuse of power must be stopped by every government
agency.

"The only way we can build our institutions is to radically address
the issue of abuse of power and misuse of power. I think that if you
give me permission, I will like to bring it tomorrow as a motion."

Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, while ruling on the
point of order, expressed displeasure over the failure by most
government agencies to submit their 2017 budget proposals to the
National Assembly for consideration and approval.

The Senate President condemned the practice where agencies of
government spend money without statutory approval by the National
Assembly and ruled that the issue be debated  and resolution taken by
the Senate on Wednesday.

Saraki said: "We are already in May.  How can Parastatals be operating
without any budget, especially in this  time of the fight against
corruption and ensuring that there is transparency in governance? We
need to take this matter seriously because clearly these agencies are
just flouting the guidelines and breaking the law.

"This is a very serious issue because as we all know, in line with the
Fiscal Responsibility Act, these budgets are meant to have been
submitted to the National Assembly since August 2016.

"They are  supposed to have come with the Appropriation document. We
have now passed the 2017 budget without the budgets of the
parastatals. I think this matter really needs to come up as a motion
because this is a very serious matter. We need to debate it," he said.

Saraki added: "Leader, this is a very important issue and we must
debate it tomorrow and if there is any Committee in exception or that
have received from agencies they oversight, then they will have the
opportunity to at least clear the Parastatals and Agencies, that have
sent their budgets.

"But if as at middle of May, we are saying we have not received any
budget from them, then which money are they spending and with what
authority? We need to look into that and take a decision that may be
they can only pay salaries until they bring their budgets here and
approvals given.

"I think once and for all, we need to address this issue and put an
end to this disregard for laws and areas of corrupt practices," the
Senate President said.