Reps panel chief Bichi says there is nothing like budget padding

The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Mr Abubakar Bichi, has disabused the minds of Nigerians over the controversy surrounding the notion of padding the budget.

Speaking during the citizens town hall on the 2024 Appropriation Bill, he contended that the National Assembly is empowered to tinker with the budget estimate to meet the yearnings and aspiration of Nigerians.

“There is nothing like budget padding. What we have is called a budget estimate, and we have the mandate to look what our people really need. We are representing our people from 360 federal constituencies and 109 senatorial districts,” he said.

“We will look at the estimates from the President and see if it’s okay for our people. We can either increase or decrease the budgetary estimates. There is nothing called budget padding because we can initiate developmental projects that would be beneficial to our people.”

The Kano born politician who promised openness and transparency during deliberations and budget defence sessions by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government called for inputs from civil societies organisations (CSOs), youths and women groups on budget making processes.

He disclosed that the budget office would upload the budgetary estimates on a dedicated website to give Nigerians the ample opportunity to scrutinize it as part of the open parliament agenda of the 10th House of Representatives.

Assuring that the House of Representatives would live up to the expectations of Nigerians, he said that there would be series of town hall meetings on ensuring effective and participatory budget process that guarantees efficient service delivery by the MDAs.

He added: “In exercising its powers of coordinating the Appropriations process, the Committee will always maintain an open door policy to accommodate the interest of stakeholders in making the process more credible, peoples oriented and veritable instrument towards good governance.”

The House of Representatives Speaker, Dr Tajudeen Abass who graced the occasion explained that the town-hall meeting is not only pivotal for Nigeria’s emergent democracy but also aims to strengthen the overall democratic structure by making government processes more transparent, participatory, and accountable.

Represented by the House minority leader, Mr Kingsley Chinda, he remarked that the town-hall approach to the national budget and appropriation process will lead to greater inclusivity, citizen participation, openness, and transparency.