Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Senate moves to end delay in budget passage, execution

By Segun Olaniyi
26 July 2016   |   4:58 am
Senate President Bukola Saraki, while setting up the committee, said their tasks included preparation and implementation of the fiscal document in order to engender efficiency and transparency.
Members of the Nigerian Senate PHOTO: TWITTER/ NIGERIAN SENATE

Members of the Nigerian Senate PHOTO: TWITTER/ NIGERIAN SENATE

Worried by the continued delay in not only passing the country’s annual budget but its poor implementation, the Senate has begun moves aimed at redressing the situation.

To this end, it has inaugurated two committees to review and reform the budget processes in the country.

Senate President Bukola Saraki, while setting up the committee, said their tasks included preparation and implementation of the fiscal document in order to engender efficiency and transparency.

According to him, government operations will be less susceptible to corruption and abuse when they are predictable, transparent and accountable. He said the current National Assembly was determined to implement budget reforms that would help open the process to greater scrutiny.

Saraki said that at the end of the committee’s assignment, the Senate would receive a comprehensive budget reform proposal that would assist in the passage of a budget which will address various concerns.

He said: “One of our most important duties as legislators is the passage of the annual budget, a critical tool for national planning.

“Over the years, both the National Assembly and the executive have expressed frustration and dissatisfaction with the outcome of our budgets. Nigerians are equally unimpressed by the outcome and implementation of the budget, as most have come with more conflicts than results.”

Saraki maintained that the Eighth National Assembly was ready to open a new chapter and lay a new foundation on which an effective budget process can be built, assuring that it was a task before the legislature that must be achieved.

He said: “It is a notorious fact that our annual budgets are yet to be fully aligned with our development goals; from conceptualisation to approval and implementation of our annual budget, there is need to converge our budgeting to national planning, continuity and efficiency, hence the need to revisit the process.”

Earlier, the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, said both committees would enhance effectiveness of legislative participation in budget process for the benefit of all.

Also, chairperson of the technical committee and the Director General, Nigerian Institute of Legislative Studies, Dr. Ladi Hamalai, said the committee would adopt a methodology that would span pre-budget, budget approval and budget implementation processes.

According to her, issues that were raised would be the focus of study.

0 Comments