Budget 2017 - Osibanjo, Rep, Senate clash
The Senate has made it
clear that it would not concede its constitutional powers to the executive arm
of government.
Their stance came on a day Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, also said the House would not serve as a rubber
stamp to the executive arm.
Both arms of the National Assembly were reacting to a statement made by Acting
President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, that the National Assembly had no powers to
introduce new projects into the budget.
Osinbajo had said: “This last budget, the President presented it
last December. Despite the assurances that it will be passed by February, it
was not, until May.
“As it turned out, we were quite disappointed that it took a bit
of time before it was approved. And thereafter, we had to go into negotiations
with the National Assembly in order to get it right.
“Now, there are these two broad issues about who can do what. The first report
is about who can do what. When you present a budget to the National Assembly,
it is presented as a bill, an appropriation bill.
“Secondly, do not introduce entirely new projects and all of
that or modify projects. This is something that we experienced last year and
this year again. It now leaves the question about who is supposed to do what?”
Responding to a Point of Order by the Deputy Senate Leader,
Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Saraki said: “I am sure the Acting President must
have been misquoted because there is clearly no ambiguity in the Constitution
of the responsibility of the National Assembly.
“This matter has been cleared and settled. So, I don’t think there are any
issues here that are vague.”
Saraki added that the Senate will continue to defend the
constitution.
“I believe that as responsible statesmen, there are times we
consult and do our best to work with the executive and assist them.
“But as we bend backwards, I don’t think that should be
misrepresented that powers given to us in the constitution do not exist.
“That is not the case, and this Senate will continue to defend
the Constitution and ensure that anything we do is in line with the laws of the
land.
“I want to say that there are times we have a number of
consultations and I want to make it clear that these consultations we do with
the executive will not at any time mean that we will give up the powers we have
in line with the constitution.
The Senate has made it
clear that it would not concede its constitutional powers to the executive arm
of government.
Their stance came on a day Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, also said the House would not serve as a rubber
stamp to the executive arm.
Both arms of the National Assembly were reacting to a statement made by Acting
President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, that the National Assembly had no powers to
introduce new projects into the budget.
Osinbajo had said: “This last budget, the President presented it
last December. Despite the assurances that it will be passed by February, it
was not, until May.
“As it turned out, we were quite disappointed that it took a bit
of time before it was approved. And thereafter, we had to go into negotiations
with the National Assembly in order to get it right.
“Now, there are these two broad issues about who can do what. The first report
is about who can do what. When you present a budget to the National Assembly,
it is presented as a bill, an appropriation bill.
“Secondly, do not introduce entirely new projects and all of
that or modify projects. This is something that we experienced last year and
this year again. It now leaves the question about who is supposed to do what?”
Responding to a Point of
Order by the Deputy Senate Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, Saraki said: “I
am sure the Acting President must have been misquoted because there is clearly
no ambiguity in the Constitution of the responsibility of the National Assembly.
“This matter has been cleared and settled. So, I don’t think there are any
issues here that are vague.”
Saraki added that the Senate will continue to defend the
constitution.
“I believe that as responsible statesmen, there are times we
consult and do our best to work with the executive and assist them.
“But as we bend backwards, I don’t think that should be
misrepresented that powers given to us in the constitution do not exist.
“That is not the case, and this Senate will continue to defend
the Constitution and ensure that anything we do is in line with the laws of the
land.
“I want to say that there are times we have a number of
consultations and I want to make it clear that these consultations we do with
the executive will not at any time mean that we will give up the powers we have
in line with the constitution.
“I want to reassure our members on this because it is very
important. Based on what we have heard, you may be concerned that one way or
another, the leadership had given up some of these powers. That is not the
case.”
“I want to reassure our members on this because it is very
important. Based on what we have heard, you may be concerned that one way or
another, the leadership had given up some of these powers. That is not the
case.”
Credit: Daily Post
Comments
Post a Comment