•Senators write off 2017 budget
From Fred Itua, Abuja
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has read the letter from Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, seeking the confirmation of Justice Walter Samuel Nkanu Onnoghen as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).
Onnoghen has been in office in acting capacity since November last year.
During yesterday’s plenary, Saraki also read a letter from President Muhammadu Buhari, seeking extension of his vacation in the United Kingdom (UK).
Saraki told senators he met President Buhari, who is currently on vacation in London in “good health,” adding that the President will be back with them in the country ‘very soon.’ I am happy to report that we met the president in good spirit, in good health, chatty as usual and he conveyed his best wishes and hopes to be back very soon.”
Meanwhile, indications emerged, yesterday night, that a planned early passage of the Appropriation Bill may not work.
It was learnt from some committee chairmen, who attended the closed door meeting, that complaints from lawmakers dominated the discussions. Lawmakers, it was learnt, told Saraki that there were too many inconsistencies in the document.
Disturbed by the confessions from lawmakers, Daily Sun gathered that Saraki immediately headed for the Presidential Villa where he met with acting President, Yemi Osinbajo. It was gathered that Saraki, among other things, discussed the N500 billion intervention fund provided in the 2017 budget. It was also learnt that the Federal Government has not provided details of how it intends to disburse the intervention funds.
Heads of MDAs, particularly the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, was named as one of those who refused to appear before the respective committees to their defend the budgets of their agencies.
The committee chairmen were said to have also complained during the meeting that a number of ‘phoney’ proposals found in the Appropriation Bill, included fake budgets for items such as computers and other items that were duplicated.
However, it was gathered that lawmakers resolved that the various committees should accelerate the budget process and ensure its completion before the end of February so as to enable the Appropriation Committee receive their reports at the end of the month.
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