The
President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Wednesday threatened to
sanction any senator who receives financial inducement from government agencies
during the 2016 Budget defence.
Saraki made this known at the end of the debate on the 2016 Budget, which was passed into second reading.
Saraki said: “Let me make this categorically clear: there will be no room for money-for-budget in the 2016 appropriation process as sanctions will be taken.
“We will ensure to report all inconsistencies to the relevant agencies of the executive branch.”
Saraki said President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire Presidency had done their part and passed the ball to the lawmakers to ensure that the budget is properly equipped to solve the issues it was designed for.
He warned senators that heavy scrutiny would be required to bring forth a budget the lawmakers themselves could be proud of.
Saraki said: For the first time in the history of our great nation, 77 per cent of our expected revenue is non-oil based.
“This represents a great foundation for the future.
“In general summary, we are all leaning towards the fact that it is not the amount that we borrow that matters, but the projects that the money is used for.
“Right now – as a percentage of GDP – we are still within the limits and parameters of fiscal responsibility.
“A lot of Senators raised observations on the fact that in the allocations to the agricultural and mineral resources sectors, the message of economic diversification was not particularly reflected.
“Those are the areas that we should look into.
“Based on our experiences in the past, we have talked about not playing the blame game.
“However, the issue of blocking all loopholes and leakages is key.
“Hence, we must pay attention to the present to address the potential for leakages in the future.
“The Executive has played its role; it is time that we as the legislature do our part.
“The issue of revenue estimates must be gotten right, particularly by the Finance and Petroleum Committees.
“The committees must particularly scrutinize this budget so that at the end of the day, we can all be proud of it.
“The Zero Budgeting means that projects will be critically assessed to go across all zones.
Saraki made this known at the end of the debate on the 2016 Budget, which was passed into second reading.
Saraki said: “Let me make this categorically clear: there will be no room for money-for-budget in the 2016 appropriation process as sanctions will be taken.
“We will ensure to report all inconsistencies to the relevant agencies of the executive branch.”
Saraki said President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire Presidency had done their part and passed the ball to the lawmakers to ensure that the budget is properly equipped to solve the issues it was designed for.
He warned senators that heavy scrutiny would be required to bring forth a budget the lawmakers themselves could be proud of.
Saraki said: For the first time in the history of our great nation, 77 per cent of our expected revenue is non-oil based.
“This represents a great foundation for the future.
“In general summary, we are all leaning towards the fact that it is not the amount that we borrow that matters, but the projects that the money is used for.
“Right now – as a percentage of GDP – we are still within the limits and parameters of fiscal responsibility.
“A lot of Senators raised observations on the fact that in the allocations to the agricultural and mineral resources sectors, the message of economic diversification was not particularly reflected.
“Those are the areas that we should look into.
“Based on our experiences in the past, we have talked about not playing the blame game.
“However, the issue of blocking all loopholes and leakages is key.
“Hence, we must pay attention to the present to address the potential for leakages in the future.
“The Executive has played its role; it is time that we as the legislature do our part.
“The issue of revenue estimates must be gotten right, particularly by the Finance and Petroleum Committees.
“The committees must particularly scrutinize this budget so that at the end of the day, we can all be proud of it.
“The Zero Budgeting means that projects will be critically assessed to go across all zones.
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