Budget: Senator laments delay in assent
The Senate spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi (APC, Niger) yesterday demanded explanation on the delay in assent to the 2017 budget, 10 days after it was transmitted to the Executive arm.
The National Assembly had on May 19 transmitted the budget to the Presidency for assent.
The budget presented to the National Assembly on December 14, last year by President Muhammadu Buhari was not passed until after five months. It was passed on the May 11.
In a phone interview, Sabi said his constituents were demanding explanation on the delay.
“My constituents want to know what is happening to the budget, 10 days after it was transmitted to the executive for assent. Unfortunately I don’t have answer to this because I don’t have access to where it is.
“I told them that we have done our part, it’s now before the executive for assent. I decided to ask you because you people pressurised us when the budget was undergoing legislative works. Why is it that the budget has not been signed?
Our correspondent reports the lawmakers jerked up their budget from N115bn proposed by President Buhari to N125bn. They also raised the entire budget size from N7.298 trillion to N7.441 trillion, making an increase of N143 billion.
The president has 30 days to sign the budget or otherwise. Section 58 (4,5) of the 1999 constitution States that, “(4) Where a bill is presented to the President for assent, he shall within thirty days thereof signify that he assents or that he withholds assent.”
Section (5) read thus,” Where the President withholds his assent and the bill is again passed by each House by twothirds majority, the bill shall become law and the assent of the President shall not be required”.