Senate to ‘concentrate’ on passing 2016 budget this week – Saraki

After months of drama and plot twists, the report on the 2016 Appropriation Bill has finally been received by both chambers of the National Assembly.It would be recalled that the 2016 Appropriation Bill was presented to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on December, 2015.

However, the passing of the bill was delayed for many months as several controversies raged on over the document -from the alleged stealing of the budget to allegations of budget padding and corruption.Subsequently, the presidency removed several government officials involved in the budget preparation and the finance committees of both chambers of the National Assembly had over the past few weeks, interviewed heads of ministries and departments to rectify the errors in the budget.

The report of those sessions was on Tuesday, laid down before the senate by Danjuma Goje (APC-Gombe), Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriations.Abdulmumin Jibrin, who is the chairman House Committee on Appropriations, submitted the report to the House of Representatives.

Speaking after the report was submitted, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, stated that the budget will be passed this week and sent to the Presidency for assent.

Today, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Danjuma Goje, laid the report of the 2016… https://t.co/Wf9603kjez

— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) March 22, 2016

Report on #Budget2016 was laid today, @NGRSenate intends to concentrate on it and ensure it is passed before end of the week.

— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) March 22, 2016