Lawmakers criticize government agencies for failing to submit budget

“I am the one responsible for the collation of reports and we have not received one single report regarding the budget of parastatals, which were supposed to have been given by September,” Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah said.

“I want to put it on record. We have not received any report. I don’t know whether the chairmen have received,” he added.

Na’Allah’s comment came as a shock to Senate President, Bukola Saraki who described it as a “very serious issue.”

“This is a very serious issue because, as we all know, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act, these things are meant to have been submitted since August – and the worse to come with the appropriation document (2017 Appropriation Bill). We have now passed it and no report (from the agencies),” Saraki said.

“I think this matter really needs to come as a motion because it is a very serious matter. We need to debate it because 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.

“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 added.

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Saraki also condemned the practice where agencies of government spend money without statutory approval by the National Assembly and ruled that the issue be debated and a resolution taken by the Senate on Wednesday, May 17.