The leadership of the Federal House of Representatives on Tuesday adjourned legislative session in order to enable members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) participate in the party’s registration exercise.
Aminu Tambuwal, speaker of the House of Representatives pronounced this after the debate on the 2014 budget proposal was stalled.
All the executive bills, including the 2014 budget proposal initially scheduled for debate, were set aside over a fortnight ago, sequel to the threat issued by the APC members.
Meanwhile, the speaker has set up a six-man committee headed by Albert Sam-Tsokwa, chairman of the House Committee on Rules and Business to look into the legality issue of the 2014 budget proposal submitted by the Executive and advise him on the next line of action within 24 hours.
Other members of the committee are Ken Chikere, chairman, House Committee on Justice; Emmanuel Nwogbo, chairman, House committee on Judiciary; Shehu Shagari; Ahmad Ali; and Sunday Adepoju.
Few minutes after the bill on the 2014 budget proposal was read by Mulikat Akande-Adeola, the House leader, a point of order on Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) was raised by Emmanuel Jime, who defected from PDP to APC last week.
While speaking, Jime who doubles as chairman House Committee on FCT argued that the Executive Arm of the Government had breached the provision of the Act by hurriedly preparing the budget, as most of the federal agencies were not represented in the budget.
Jime maintained that the 2014 budget was not accompanied by estimates as required by Section 21 Sub-section 1, 2 and 3 of the FRA.
“What we have is the abridged summary of this estimate. We cannot accept the Minister’s summary of the budget. We must never accept the breach of our law”, he admonished.
“This particular budget presentation was a breach of our law and we cannot continue to have the Executive continue to breach our laws. History is going to judge this parliament for standing on what is just. An account of the missing $10.8billion has not been given to Nigerians and you want us to discuss the 2014 budget”.
While responding to Jime’s submission, John Enoh, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, however noted that the Executive did not in any way breach the Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2007.
“The executive arm of Government in the last three years has been in full compliant of the law. The estimate, as the practice in the last three years, is always accompanied by summaries and the estimates are attached.
“As we speak, the necessary estimates, as is our practice, have been sent to different committees to work to work on. The estimates that have to do with NNPC have been sent to committees on downstream and upstream sectors of Petroleum Resources, the ones for the banking sector, I mean, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been sent to Banking and Currency.
“I disagree with what my colleague said that the budget breached any law whatsoever. There is no time any member of this House has raised objection in the course of this national budget that the budget of NNPC, CBN must be brought. The budget of any country is the most important document of any country. It is not a matter of convenience. It is a matter of importance. So, the consideration should go ahead”.
While ruling on Jime’s point of order, the speaker, who presided over the plenary session, inaugurated a six-man panel to examine the allegation.
