From JAMES OJO, Abuja
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
President Umaru Yar’Adua
•Photo: Sun News Publishing

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The stage is set for possible confrontation between the government of President Umaru Yar’Adua and the House of Representatives as members, yesterday spat fire, threatening to rekindle the flame of impeachment over his failure to fully implement the 2009 budget.

In no distant time, the House agreed after accepting the report of its Appropriation and Finance Committees on the implementation of the 2009 Budget that it would invoke its constitutional powers against the president.

Although reference was not made to Section 143 of the 1999 Constitution that has to do with impeachment of the president, the House agreed that there was no excuse on the part of the president not to implement the budget as signed into law.
Members were unanimous that the report of the two committees put a lie to the claims by the Federal Government that the 2009 Appropriation Act cannot be fully implemented on account of dwindling revenue.

Through the report, it was discovered that between January and April 2009, the Federal Government raked in N27.98billion, a figure higher than what was projected in the budget, despite the concomitant effects of the disruptions on oil production and crude export by militants in the Delta region.
“Even with shortfall in revenue due to militant activities in the Niger Delta region, leading to reduction in daily output from targeted 2.292mbd to about 2.05mbd and reduction in OPEC quota, government was able to surpass the projection to the tune of N27.98 billion.
“Given the above therefore, enough funds were available for full implementation of the budget as passed for the period under review,” the report stated.

Presenting the report signed by Hon Ayo Adeseun and Hon John Enoh, chairmen of Appropriation and Finance committees respectively, Adeseun deputy, Hon Andrew Uchendu stated that about N119.12 was drawn to argument the shortfall in Federation Account and federal government’s share of this amounted to N51.79 billion, while the sales of government houses and other transfers totalling N127.37 billion made money to be available for full implementation of the budget.

Opening the season of condemnation for not keeping to the rule of law, as far as the implementation of the 2009 Appropriation Act was concerned, Hon Halims Agoda noted with regret that the budget designed to address key issues of infrastructural development was been implemented peace meal.

“The Executive has no choice but to implement the budget, the money realized in the period under review showed that there was no reason not to implement the 2009 budget,” he said.
In his contribution, Hon Ogbuefi Ozomgbachi noted that based on the report of the Appropriation and Finance committee, the President should realized that the Appropriation Act is an act of the National Assembly that should be obeyed.

Hon Ubale Kiru said that selecting the budget for implementation by the Executive was not only illegal, but against the constitution, noting that such a trend must be checked by the Parliament.
Leader of Opposition, Ali Ndume berated the PDP led government for not living up to its claim of rule of law, saying that the Appropriation Act is a law of the National Assembly accented to by the president.
Chairman, Rules and Business Committee, Ita Enang said that the excuse of the government for not implementing the budget as passed into law was not tenable as there was no shortfall in revenue projections.

Briefing newsmen after the plenary session, Hon Ali Ndume, supported by his deputy, Hon Suleiman Kawu and the Minority Whip, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila hailed the resolution of the House saying it was a mark of patriotism among members.
“The decision of the House is a move on the right direction. This country belongs to all of us whether you belong to the ruling party or the opposition. We are not threatening the president with impeachment, we hope it did not get to that but if he fails to listen, then we have no option that ton impeach him. No one is above the law,” Ndume said.

Hon Gbajabiamila asked Nigerians to know that it was the Executive that is slowing down the pace of development by not implementing the budget, adding that the Parliament should not be blamed in their resolve to defend the constitution.
The House had on Wednesday, May 13 2009 mandated the Joint Committee on Appropriations and Finance to look into the implementation of the 2009 Appropriation Act and report back within two weeks

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/newsonthehour/2009/july/15/newsbreak-15-07-2009-001.htm

Those Reps are just talking shit,
Now,most of them are PDP so if they impeach him,they also lose, which is why they cant,
They are just wasting time,instead of passing Bills