The House of Representatives yesterday began deliberations on the proposed 2016 Budget with all members who spoke on the Appropriation Bill lauding its contents and uniqueness.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the House had on Tuesday acknowledged receipt of the corrected version of the document from President Muhammadu Buhari and immediately distributed same to individual members for their perusal.

Moving the motion for the second reading of the Money Bill on the floor of the House, the majority leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, in a lead debate described the budget as an all-inclusive document that seeks to carry everyone along.

He said, “The 2016 budget is epic and historical not just because of its super mega size of 6trillion but for reason that it touches on the economic and social well being of the people of Nigeria. It is epic because yes it is the highest budget ever proposed by a Nigerian government.

“Epic and historical because it is a budget that is coming at the advent of a historically low oil price and on the heels of a receding economy like never before.

“Epic and historical because it is perhaps the first really all inclusive budget that seeks to carry all Nigerians along. The rich, the not-so-rich, the poor, the not-so-poor and the vulnerable.”

The House leader further noted that given what the Appropriation Bill contains, the 2016 budget will stimulate the nation’s economy by way of injecting N6.08trillion into the economy particularly its capital expenditure component of N1.85 trillion.

Other members, who took turns to contribute to the debate on the budget, commended the budget particularly the unprecedented 30% capital expenditure, which they believed will positively impact on the wellbeing of the citizenry.

Some however called on the Standing Committees of the House to ensure adequate oversight of MDAs in order to ensure that monies appropriated are tracked to their desired destinations.

Meanwhile, the deliberations on the budget will continue today as the Speaker, Hon Yakubu Dogara will also this morning inaugurate the Constitution Review Committee, which is to be chaired by his deputy, Hon. Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun

 

APC, PDP senators disagree over 2016 Budget implementation

But the deliberation on the 2016 budget took another dimension on the floor of the Senate as the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators and their counterparts from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed divergent views.

While the PDP senators sought for the withdrawal of the N6.8trillion budget, those of the APC maintained that the budget was in order.

It started when Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume sought for permission to lead the debate on the budget at the plenary session. He said the the budget would promote economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction and service delivery to all Nigerians.

Ndume’s submission threw the senate plenary in disarray as some lawmakers mumbled in disagreement, with some of them shouting “order”.

But Senator Babajide Omoworare raised a point of order, observing that the debate should be limited to the financial and economic situation in the country and the government’s financial policy.

“There was no need to even wait for any estimate because we are taking the general principles,” said Omoworare.

In his submission, Senator Olusola Adeyeye said the budget cannot be deliberated upon when it was cleary stated that it was the second day.

But the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, urged distinguished senstors to allow the leader should lead the debate, even as he approved the point of order raised by Sen. Omowarare.

Noting that debate on the budget could be extended to enable the lawmakers to be ready for their debate, Saraki said, “The debate is done on the general principles of the bill. We have always had a way of how we do our things here in the general interest. The leader proposed, he will lead the debate and we had allocated three days fromTuesday. If any senator is not prepared to contribute, we will adjust days so everybody is allowed to contribute. Let the leader lead the debate and if you need more days, we can create more days”.

But in his submission, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe ( PDP, Abia) pointed out that the 2016 budget is “a change in the wrong direction”, adding that because it was based on zero budgeting, Nigeria would go about borrowing.

Abaribe said, “It is a ‘Budget of Change’, I agree; but it is a change in the wrong direction. I say it is a change in the wrong direction because it says that it is based on zero budgeting, requiring all expenses to be fully justified. Mr. President, a budget that increases spending up to 30 percent based solely on borrowing. In what way is it justified? That is the question we want to ask the people, who brought this budget as change.

Speaking next was Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu who noted that the nation’s Budget has always seen an increase over the years, from between 10 and 20 percent. Appealing to Nigeria to be realistic, Ekweremadu warned that the 2016 Budget would not be implementable if it is not reduced by 20 to 30 per cent.

Source: http://leadership.ng/news/493649/reps-begin-deliberations-2016-budget-2

The deliberations were going on well till, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia state decided to emit IPOB induced nonsense

The main problem we have in this country is IPOB youths.

These group of criminals and terrorists are waging war against anti- corruption policy of the government.

Nigeria will conquer IPOB and subdue them

The senate should ignore any IPOB supporting senator and pass the budget ASAP so the government can implement it

God bless Nigeria

Crimkum crankum

Lol...... Why won't they when the budget has generated so much controversy. Budget of shange indeed

ok

always. nduu.si@gmail.com. I can help you get rid of Arthritis, Heart congestion, Eczema, Pile, Excess Fat, Pot belly, Inflammation, Gall stone, Kidney stone, Growing Cancer.

Ok

It was expected with the way this changers wants to dupe their former masters with 'change' chants

How I wish they would fight join the disagreement..

Useless old fellows who re all after their pocket.

Issorites

Although I don't subscribe to this but it's a calculated risk that ought to be taken.

true

The whole budget analysis is a scrap and nothing more.we are borrowing to service the Villa and the National Assembly for they are gulp half of what we budgeted.so who is fooling who?

let the govt publish publicly the remunerations they go home with.you will vindicate me with the startling revelations;Your senator goes home with #860 million in a year, whereas your mum and dad are yet to be paid their salaries, do we call this a change?

A word is enough for a wise

Am observing, PDP should rest



meanwhile guys see this threaad on nairaland on the new way to cure stroke, obesity, burn fat, and obesity

https://www.nairaland.com/2844443/know-anybody-down-stroke

Initial gra-gra

Okay, dearis God

I bet none of you have read this news, you only commented based on the headline.

In the United State, democrats and republican don't usually agree on the budget.
it is purely politics

‘A budget that moves domestic spending in Aso Villa from N580m to N1.7bn cannot be a budget of change’

Abuja – Sen. Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP Abia South) on Wednesday in Abuja, berated the 2016 budget and called on President Muhammaduu Buhari to withdraw it and go back to the drawing board.

Abaribe while making contributions during the consideration of the budget, said the proposal was faulty on many grounds and could not be implemented at it was.

He said that predication of oil benchmark at 38 dollars per barrel when the crude oil price had fallen below 30 dollars per barrel made the budget unrealistic.

Abaribe faulted the government for increasing spending by 30 per cent based on borrowing.

“Mr President, my colleagues, this budget is indeed unique. After the budget presentation, the finance minister has never come to explain the details of the budget as it is normally done.

“It is a budget of change I agree, but it is a change in the wrong direction. I say it is a change in the wrong direction because it says that it is based on zero budgeting requiring all expenses to be fully justified.

“Mr President, a budget that increases spending up to 30 per cent based solely on borrowing, in what way are we justified? That is the question we want to ask the people who brought this budget.

“We know what is going on in the global economy: this budget is predicated on an oil benchmark of 38 dollars per barrel and I can now say that with oil being 28 dollars today, this budget is dead on arrival.

“The job of the opposition is to help the government to get its priorities right, so I want to please urge this government to withdraw this budget and go back to the drawing board,” he said.

The senator also faulted the adjustments made in the budget as well as allocation for spending in the Aso Rock Villa, saying that it was too exorbitant.

He said that the adjustments rather than reduce spending in areas where they were not necessary only spread it into different offices.

“Mr President, a budget that moves domestic spending within Aso Villa from N580 million to N1.7 billion cannot be a budget of change.

“We were told that in the revised budget there was an adjustment due to error, we agree but what has happened is that up to N7 billion were moved from buying vehicles and spread to offices.

“It also increased the spending that is due to renovations within the Villa.

“They are going to renovate the Villa with N3.9 billion: what else do you want to renovate there that Nigerians will see in the Year 2016?” he asked.

However, in his contribution, Sen. Ahmed Lawan (APC Yobe North) blamed the previous administration for the lack of funds due to the embezzlement witnessed in previous governments.

He said that this was the 17th budget he would be debating as a legislator and noted that not more than 40 per cent implementation was achieved in the last 16 years.

“The proposal before us is the first budget where the executive has deemed it necessary to give ordinary Nigerians genuine hope.

“N500 billion allocated for school feeding and social SAFTEY NET is commendable.

“It is time to say oil should not continue to play dominant role as we have suffered economically and politically: it is time to diversify this economy.

“The direction of the executive is the way to go. `That is, we should make every effort to have the real sector-agric mining and manufacturing.

“The budget deserves the support of everyone, including my colleagues on the other side. When we were in the opposition we supported the PDP, they should support us,” he said.

Cc: Lalasticlala

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/01/602809/

6.08 trillion budget with only 1.3 trillion going to capital expenditure!

How is this different from the average PDP budget?

Highest budget in Nigeria, when oil prices are at their lowest since 2003?

Nigerians must be mad, there is not other reason we allow such rascals to be at the helm of affairs!

I remember I was one of the people here on Nairaland that critised the amount of money budgeted for Aso rock with respect to feeding under GEJ.

What did Buhari do? He increased allocation to the villa!

Toh,we just dey observe una

.

APC fake since 1900.

Buhari wants to destroy this country


You complain of the country being broke, yet you allocate billions just for Aso rock maintenance.

Change indeed!

Angelic Thieves Vs Luciferian Thieves. let's see who wins.

Femi Gbajabiamila, in a lead debate described the budget as an all-inclusive document that seeks to carry everyone along.
He said, “The 2016 budget is epic and historical not just because of its super mega size of 6trillion but for reason that it touches on the economic and social well being of the people of Nigeria. It is epic because yes it is the highest budget ever proposed by a Nigerian government.
“Epic and historical because it is a budget that is coming at the advent of a historically low oil price and on the heels of a receding economy like never before.
“Epic and historical because it is perhaps the first really all inclusive budget that seeks to carry all Nigerians along. The rich, the not-so-rich, the poor, the not-so-poor and the vulnerable

Epic ko epoch ni! Apc destiny is to. rape and balkanise Nigeria.