Buhari seeks speedy passage of budget for 38 agencies

Although this year’s appropriation had been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly, President Muhammadu Buhari, in line with the dictates of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007, has sought expeditious passage of the budget of 38 agencies.

The law requires that the budget of the affected parastatals must come with the estimates for the consideration of the federal lawmakers, thus an approval is mandatory.

In a letter dated 30 June, 2016 and read yesterday on the floor of the chamber by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the President specifically requested for consideration of the votes for the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Oil and Gas Free Zones Authority and Nigeria Nuclear Regulatory Authority.

Others include Nigerian Ports Authority, National Maritime Authority, Nigerian Shippers Council, Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC), News Agency of Nigeria as well as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) among others.Buhari, however, noted that the budgets of privatised agencies and corporations were not included in the request.