The President of the Nigerian Senate, Ahmed Lawan, says the National Assembly has kept its promise of reversing the country’s budget cycle from January-December and sustaining that.
Lawan made the remark in an interview with State House Correspondents, soon after President Buhari appended his signature on the vital document.
He says, “Well, first of all, let me thank the Almighty God for witnessing today. The signing of the 2023 appropriation bill by Mr. President today marked the fourth consecutive signing of the annual appropriations passed by the-ninth National Assembly. And I will take the opportunity to congratulate and commend members of the National Assembly for this feat.
“When we came in, we promised that we’re going to pass the budgets, the annual budgets before the end of each year. And we have kept that promise by the grace of God. Nothing can be better than this, because this is one fit that has influenced even states, many states rushed to ensure that they passed and assent to their annual budgets before the end of the year.
“And of course, the economy, tax, the positive aspects of the implementation of the budgets that start normally from January. So we are very grateful to Almighty God that that has happened.
“Secondly, let me also say that the reform in bringing the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF & FSP), the budget, the appropriation bill, the finance bill, I think is a worthwhile development that should be continued.”
He stressed that the legislators have done what was modest and it should be continued by their successors.
“We haven’t done as we would have wished to do. But I think at the risk of sounding immodest, the ninth National Assembly has passed the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper (MTEF & FSP), at normal time, passed the appropriation bill, passed the Finance bill. And of course, we are very glad that we have been able to do that.
“Thirdly, this is the last annual appropriation bill that this National Assembly would pass. And Mr. President would ascend like he mentioned. It is our hope that implementation will start as soon as possible, because time is of essence, and the main reason for passing the budget at record time is to ensure implementation in good time.
“We have also increased the duration, the life of the 2022 Appropriation Act, to end on the 31st of March, we believe that the simultaneous implementation of the 2022 appropriation bill including the supplementary and of course, the 2023 Appropriation Act, should be done in such a way that the economy of this country we reflected before the next government comes in,” he stated.
Improving Nigeria’s Revenue Base
The President of the Senate also said the legislators would now focus on their job within the remaining time they have, especially how to improve the revenue base of the country.
“Ours is for us to focus on the next five months or so, we still have something worthwhile to do, even though both chambers have done almost all of what we considered our legislative agenda.
“But Nigeria faces challenges of revenue. And this is going to be our focus. This is going to be what the National Assembly, both chambers will ensure that we get revenues, we find more sources, better sources, stabilize resources and of course, look into some of the legislations and some of the waivers and concessions granted to see whether or not they deserve to continue to be implemented in a manner they were approved. Or we need to reverse that because we need money in our country.
“But that is not to say that, we should raise taxes that will be out of the roof as to cause problems for our citizens. But I believe that as a National Assembly, in the next five months, we must be looking at increasing the funds available to the government and also ensuring that the deficit budget is minimized in the next assembly by the grace of God,” he added.
Similarly, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, said contrary to insinuations, the legislators didn’t just increase the budget for no reason but did so to enable government agencies meet their mandates.
According to him, “You’ve used the language jerk up about three or four times in this one sentence. I’m not quite sure what that means. If you understand constitutional democracy, there are different layers of government. And it’s called separation of powers.
“Ours is for us to receive proposals and that’s why they’re called proposals. Anywhere in the world, it is now for the National Assembly or the legislature. We need to collate all those proposals, look at what’s on ground in the various constituencies.
“And during budget defense, we have ministries, departments and agencies that come to talk to us. And we look at the reality on ground and what they have before them. And whether or not they can actually execute their mandate as per their ministries and departments.
“It now behooves the National Assembly, where it dims for, to adjust figures, either downwards or upwards. And that’s exactly what we have done.
“You see, the problem with the National Assembly is that you can’t win or lose. If you return the budget the exact way it is, you’re called a rubber stamp. If you do what you’re supposed to do and adjust figures for the good of the country. You call it jacking up or inflation, or padding.”
Meeting Constitutional Mandate
Gbajabiamila noted with pride that the National Assembly did its best for the good of the country.
“So I think the National Assembly has done very well in meeting its constitutional mandate. It takes all arms of government to be on board to give a true working document for the country.
“The executive did everything they could. And we have even a wider view, a bird’s eye view of what’s going on in all the agencies. And we have also complemented what the executive has done. There’s no you did you didn’t do. No. It’s all for the good of the country. And that’s what we’ve done,” he added.
Confidence Okwuchi
