National Assembly has again reneged on its earlier promise to pass the 2016 this week. According to a new schedule, made available by the leadership of the senate yesterday, the budget will now be passed next week before the lawmakers embark on the Easter break.
The Joint Appropriation Committee had, in a press briefing two weeks ago, assured Nigerians that its report on the 2016 budget would be presented at both chambers yesterday, while the consideration and passage of the Appropriation Bill would be concluded today. Surprisingly, the report of the joint committee was not laid before the senate as earlier promised. Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who spoke to journalists after the plenary, however assured that the report would be laid before the senate today, while the passage of the bill would take place next week.
According to him, once the report is laid, both chambers will deliberate on it on Tuesday next week, while the bill will be passed on Wednesday. Ndume also assured that the National Assembly will forward the Bill to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent before the lawmakers vacate for Easter break. Speaking on the same issue, Senate spokesman, Abdullahi Sabi, assured that all was set for the laying of the report today.
He also explained that for the budget to be laid today, it means that there is concurrence, and that all members of the appropriation committee are satisfied, including everybody that has a responsibility to the budget. The lawmaker disclosed that so far, every member of the committee has appended his signature on the budget.
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