Buhari Admits Changes To 2016 Budget
Wed Jan 20, 2016 09:03:am National
3.3K By sosa hills
President Muhammadu Buhari has finally admitted making some changes in the provisions of the 2016 Budget.
Buhari, in the letter addressed to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, dated January 16, 2016, said that he made some corrections in the draft Bill and asked the legislature to consider the corrected version as the authentic Appropriation Bill for 2016.
President Buhari observed that although some corrections were made on the Budget document, "the draft Bill remains the same and there are no changes on any of the figures."
Buhari noted that at the time of submission of the 2016 Budget, he had indicated that the detailed breakdown of the budget containing the schedule would be made available to the Senate.
He told the lawmakers that necessary corrections had been completed on the budget and that the corrected version of the money bill had also been submitted to the National Assembly.
The President, therefore, said that the National Assembly would be given both the original copy he had submitted to the apex legislative assembly since December 22, 2015, and the copy containing the corrections.
Buhari acknowledged that he was aware of the controversies and confusion the corrections made on the budget proposals had provoked in the polity.
He explained that the draft bill did not change, neither were there any changes in the figures of either the sectoral allocations or the total budget figures.
The letter partly read, "It will be recalled that on Tuesday 22nd December, 2016 (he means 2015), I presented my 2016 budget proposals to the joint sitting of the National Assembly. I submitted a draft bill accompanied by a schedule of details.
"As of the time of submission, we indicated that because the details had just been produced, we would have had to check to ensure that there were no errors in the detailed breakdown contained in the schedule.
"That has since been completed and I understand that the corrections have been submitted. The National Assembly would, therefore, have the details as submitted on the 22nd and a copy containing the corrections submitted last week.
"It appears that this has led to some confusion. In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. This is the version the National Assembly should work with as my 2016 budget estimates.
"The draft bill remains the same and there are no changes in any of the figures."
Saraki told his colleagues after the adoption of the document that what was paramount in the hearts of Nigerians was the content of the budget and how it would impact on their lives.
He said the controversies generated with respect to corrections being made on the bill by the Presidency should be a thing of the past.
He, therefore, noted that the Senate would commence debate on the budget proposals today and continue on Thursday and Tuesday next week.
Consequently, Saraki directed the Senate Leader to ensure that copies of the budget estimates were produced and distributed to members in preparation for debate.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday stopped a protest by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party over the corrections proposed to the 2016 budget by President Buhari.
The PDP lawmakers, led by the House Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, raised objections soon after Dogara read a letter from Buhari, informing lawmakers on the alterations to the N6.08tn estimates.
In the letter, the President emphasized that the total figures in the budget remained unchanged except that he made necessary "corrections" to some provisions.
Dogara had hardly read the letter when Ogor jumped up from his seat to protest that what the President did was an amendment and not mere corrections.
Buhari, in the letter addressed to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, dated January 16, 2016, said that he made some corrections in the draft Bill and asked the legislature to consider the corrected version as the authentic Appropriation Bill for 2016.
President Buhari observed that although some corrections were made on the Budget document, "the draft Bill remains the same and there are no changes on any of the figures."
Buhari noted that at the time of submission of the 2016 Budget, he had indicated that the detailed breakdown of the budget containing the schedule would be made available to the Senate.
He told the lawmakers that necessary corrections had been completed on the budget and that the corrected version of the money bill had also been submitted to the National Assembly.
The President, therefore, said that the National Assembly would be given both the original copy he had submitted to the apex legislative assembly since December 22, 2015, and the copy containing the corrections.
Buhari acknowledged that he was aware of the controversies and confusion the corrections made on the budget proposals had provoked in the polity.
He explained that the draft bill did not change, neither were there any changes in the figures of either the sectoral allocations or the total budget figures.
The letter partly read, "It will be recalled that on Tuesday 22nd December, 2016 (he means 2015), I presented my 2016 budget proposals to the joint sitting of the National Assembly. I submitted a draft bill accompanied by a schedule of details.
"As of the time of submission, we indicated that because the details had just been produced, we would have had to check to ensure that there were no errors in the detailed breakdown contained in the schedule.
"That has since been completed and I understand that the corrections have been submitted. The National Assembly would, therefore, have the details as submitted on the 22nd and a copy containing the corrections submitted last week.
"It appears that this has led to some confusion. In this regard, please find attached the corrected version. This is the version the National Assembly should work with as my 2016 budget estimates.
"The draft bill remains the same and there are no changes in any of the figures."
Saraki told his colleagues after the adoption of the document that what was paramount in the hearts of Nigerians was the content of the budget and how it would impact on their lives.
He said the controversies generated with respect to corrections being made on the bill by the Presidency should be a thing of the past.
He, therefore, noted that the Senate would commence debate on the budget proposals today and continue on Thursday and Tuesday next week.
Consequently, Saraki directed the Senate Leader to ensure that copies of the budget estimates were produced and distributed to members in preparation for debate.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday stopped a protest by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party over the corrections proposed to the 2016 budget by President Buhari.
The PDP lawmakers, led by the House Minority Leader, Mr. Leo Ogor, raised objections soon after Dogara read a letter from Buhari, informing lawmakers on the alterations to the N6.08tn estimates.
In the letter, the President emphasized that the total figures in the budget remained unchanged except that he made necessary "corrections" to some provisions.
Dogara had hardly read the letter when Ogor jumped up from his seat to protest that what the President did was an amendment and not mere corrections.
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