The Presidency on Tuesday gave the reasons why presentation of the 2014 Budget proposals to the National Assembly is being delayed.
The presentation that was first scheduled for November 12 has been cancelled twice.
Speaking with State House correspondents, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati ,said the delay was to ensure strong intergovernmental harmony between the Executive and National Assembly.
The delay, he said, will also prevent unnecessary acrimony that usually trail budget passage in the country.
He said: “Previous acrimonies were blamed on failure of inter- governmental relationship.
“The budget has been ready for over a week now, but since the two arms of the National Assembly are yet to harmonize their positions on the Crude oil bench mark in the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the fiscal strategy paper, it was wise for Mr. President to wait until this is done.”
He said the Presidency will cause the budget to be laid before the National Assembly as soon as the harmonization is concluded.
The Senate had earlier rejected the president’s oil benchmark of $74 per barrel and instead, raised it up to $76.50 per barrel, while the House of Representatives on the other hand also rejected the $74 per barrel and raised it to $79, while approving daily oil production of 2.388mbpd, 2.5007mbpd and 2.5497mbpd for 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively as proposed by the president.
The Ahmed Makarfi’s led Senate Joint Committee on Finance and Appropriations, had in its reports on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper, made recommendation that they should be so reflected in the 2014 budget before it can be presented to the National Assembly for consideration and passage. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Do we really need budget in this country. Just for formality sake. how far has 2013 budget been implemented.
ReplyDeleteIs this intergovernmental harmony thing not the same as bribes and settlement?
ReplyDeleteJust asking because I wonder what it is. May be Christmas bonus for legislators