The duo of President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki received serious criticisms from Nigerians on Thursday following an update on alleged missing soft and hard copies of Nigeria’s 2016 budget from the Senate.
The Senate had on Wednesday finally confirmed that the document was missing while the House of Representatives said it had its copy of the budget proposal of N6.08 trillion presented by President Buhari to a joint session of the senate.
When the issue was raised by Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe on Wednesday, Saraki had announced that an ad-hoc committee with members whose identities were not made known, would present a report on Thursday and that it was the report that would guide the Senate on the issue.
However, on Thursday, Saraki announced that the confusion arose because the Senate has two versions of the budget, one presented by Buhari and the other presented by one of the President’s aide, Ita Enang,
“Today, the Senate received the report of the ad hoc committee setup to investigate the claims of the #MissingBudget2016. The report of the committee revealed that the Senate received two versions of the 2016 Appropriation Bill – one from President Muhammdu Buhari at the December 22nd, 2015 Joint Session of the National Assembly, and another from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.
“The Senate will only accept the version of the appropriation bill that was presented by the President,” Saraki said.
Unexpectedly, the backlash that followed the message posted by the Senate President on his Facebook wall was not expected.
A Nigerian, Aniefiok Ntia, said: “sir, (it) is you alone that I respect in APC. But why should Senate, in the first place, receive two budget boxes? Are we having two countries in Nigeria? Or is this part of the change APC promised Nigerians?
Victor Olaitan Oke said: “it just shows we run a bread and butter legislature in this part of the country; if our legislators could treat an issue so serious and peculiar like the national budget with levity, then why are we wasting our resources on them? I want to believe the national assembly does not have any idea, what Nigerians are going through and the effect budget will have on the teaming population.”
Terence Obi retorted: “incompetent leaders, how can a President present an appropriation bill and send another version through his Special Assistance on National Assembly Matters, and it was no problem until the bill is supposed to be read? Which country has this kind of thing happened before? Tommorow you will come and tell us you passed the wrong bill…”
For Cyno Monday Ekeh, this singular act of “deceit” calls for the impeachment of the President.
“Is this act not more corrupt than the propaganda #armsgate? Now, the two documents should be made public for us to know the similarities and dissimilarities as well as the reasons behind such treasonable act,” he demanded.
John Donald said: “Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, the Minister of Budget & National Planning & Senator Ita Enang, the Special Adviser on National Assembly Matters should be call upon for explanation over the missing budget because the two men knew something about that. They are wolves in sheep’s clothing and their plan is to tarnish the image of the 8th Senate President and the Deputy Senate President after they destroying ALSCON .”
Adi Shekarau asked: “is this an agenda to eat up the 2016 budget or is that one of the change agenda Nigerians should expect from the APC-led govt? This is a clear indications that Nigerians are not fools, dont play politics now. Senate, I want you to know that it is a big shame for such thing happening in your time; Nigerians are not fools I tell you.
“From this, many Nigerians may believe that the senate are incapacitated and incompetent in discharging their duties. Now, where is the faith and trust Nigerians voluntarily gave out to support your party during the 2015 presidential elections? Sir, what kind of laziness is this?
Aminu Idris told Saraki: “you are a confused Senate President ever.”
Godwin Menegha described the government as “confused and inept”.
“How could they present two version of a national budget? Buhari and his APC rogues are the most clueless people on earth. They submitted two versions to deceive Nigerians and perpetrate corruption,” he said.
Temidayo Akinsuyi went comical: “I heard IMF MD, Christine Lagarde took the budget away for thorough amendment (Senator Melaye smuggled it out of NASS under his turban).”
Aqeelah Ramziah said: “so Buhari presented two budgets to the Senate. The Senate President voices out. Buhari’s worshippers leave the Buhari they should hold accountaible as to why two budgets should be presented and start blaming the Senate President that brought a notice of this anomality to Nigerians? Which kind of idol worshipping is this?”
Austin Emy asked: “what else do Nigerians expect from APC? Are people really surprised with their actions? A result of an association built on lies and deceit. Such an interesting times for Buhari and his APC. Only truth and justice build a great nation.
For Tajudeen Adeyemo, it is unfortunate that the Senate has embarrassed itself with the missing budget story. “The Senate has a lot of work to do to improve on their image in the eyes of the masses,” he said.
Prince Olalekan Kolawole fired: “please Nigerians are not fools. You people can’t sit there in Abuja and try to make a fool of us. Whats the essence of the ad hoc committee if the budget was not missing? This is a national disgrace and Nigerians deserve apology from both the federal legislatures and executives.”
