And Nigerian Senate defers consideration and passage of 2017 budget

The Senate, yesterday, deferred the consideration and passage of the 2017 Appropriation Bill (budget).


Although the submission of the report was included in the day’s Order Paper, the Senate, however, stepped it down, citing the inability of the committee on Appropriations to conclude work on the document.


Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan,  said members of the  Committee on Appropriations were currently meeting with their counterparts in the House of Representatives to resolve grey areas.




According to Lawan, the budget report is now expected to be laid next Tuesday, May 9th, 2017.


“The Committee Chairman on Appropriations is not here. His counterpart who chairs the Finance Committee is not here either. I am aware that  members of Senate Appropriations committee are currently meeting with their counterparts in the House of Representatives, trying to settle the differences.


“I have also equally been informed that by the grace of God, the budget of 2017 will be laid on Tuesday. Having said this, 
I will move that we stand down this report till Tuesday, he said.”


The Senate Leader, had while briefing State House Correspondents, revealed that the budget would be passed this week and immediately transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.


“The good news is that we are doing everything possible to catch up the lost time and that by the grace of God, I am thinking that by next week we should be able to finish our own work and pass the budget for Mr President to sign,” Lawan had revealed.


Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the day’s legislative business, revealed that the 2016 budget could still run till end of June, within which the 2017 budget will be passed.


“Let me also emphasise for the benefit of the public that we were ready to receive this report today (yesterday). It was only this morning that it was necessary for us to be sure that we are on the same page with the House of Representatives to avoid any possible conferencing.


“So what we will like to sees the House and the Senate laying just the same documents so that once we pass, we will now send the documents to the President for assent.

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