By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi
President Muhammadu Buhari wrote himself into history, yesterday, when he forwarded budgets of agencies and corporations not captured in the national budget to the National Assembly for consideration.
The president’s action is predicated on the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007.
In a June 30 correspondence to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, the president submitted budgets of 38 agencies and corporations in line with extant laws.
The submitted budgets were that of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Others are Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), National Maritime Authority (NMA), Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Nigerians Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Nigerians Immigration Service (NIS), Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB) and Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), among others. The president urged lawmakers to expedite action on the budgets and also said that, in line with the provisions of the Act, “budget of the agencies and corporations which have been privatised, or otherwise ceased to exist, are not included, herein.”
In the Sixth National Assembly, lawmakers insisted budgets of revenue-generating federal departments and agencies must be brought to the National Assembly for approval; which led to the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007. The CBN Act was signed into law on May 25, 2007 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It gives power to the CBN board, in Section 6 (3) (a), to consider and approve the bank’s annual budget.
However, on July 30, 2007, then President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua signed the Fiscal Responsibility Act which provides that federal agencies, including the CBN, must submit their budgets to the National Assembly. In compliance with that law, Buhari forwarded the budgets to the federal legislature for scrutiny and approval.
In the Seventh National Assembly, Senator Ita Enang, sponsored a bill to compel the CBN to submit its yearly budget to the National Assembly for approval which scaled Second Reading.
Enang is now Buhari’s special adviser on National Assembly Matters (Senate).
Hitherto, the CBN, relied on its Act, which gave its board the power to approve its budget and refused to submit its annual proposals to the National Assembly.
…Hails US’ role in 2015 polls
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has attributed the stability of Nigeria’s democracy to the role the United States of America’s government played in the success of the 2015 general elections in the country.
Buhari said this yesterday when he received outgoing US Ambassador, Mr. James Entwistle, at the State House. He added that the US’ insistence on free, fair and violent-free elections largely contributed to the deepening of democracy in the country.
The president also attributed the success of the election to former Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega’s competence and courage.
“The US support, before, during and after the 2015 elections was vital to Nigeria’s stability and I will never forget the role they played in the stability of Nigeria.
“We were lucky to have had an INEC chairman who was competent and courageous.
“Mr. Ambassador, you occupied a position at a very strategic time in Nigeria’s history and I hope our historians will record this because it meant so much for our stability. I hope you write a book on your experience in Nigeria. The commitment of U.S in supporting Nigeria has been unprecedented,” he said.
President Buhari also thanked the Americans for their military, intelligence and humanitarian support to Nigeria on the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgency.
He said Nigeria also valued US contributions to promoting regional peace and stability through the instrumentality of the G7.
Earlier, Entwistle, in his remarks, expressed concerns over deteriorating humanitarian situation in the North East part of the country with reports of food crisis and malnutrition.
He also said the bilateral relationship between both countries remain vibrant and cordial.
“I had a marvellous three-and-half years in Nigeria and I am grateful to have been involved in the memorable elections in 2015,” he added.
In a related development, President Buhari commended the Canadian government’s humanitarian assistance to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs )in the North East, and their commitment to polio eradication in the country.
He gave the commendation when he received in audience the outgoing High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Ambassador Perry Calderwood.
He highlighted the Federal Government’s effort to facilitate voluntary return of displaced persons in addition to ensuring that conditions in North-eastern Nigeria improve significantly before the next farming season.
Calderwood had also expressed concerns on poor humanitarian situation in the North East as well as possible food crisis and malnutrition.
He conveyed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s desire to strengthen ties with Nigeria in Canada’s quest for partnership on international engagements, including its bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council, 2021-2022.
US support/sd
Buhari hails US’ role in 2015 polls
From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja
President Muhammadu Buhari has attributed the stability of Nigeria’s democracy to the role the United States Government played in the success of the 2015 general elections in Nigeria.
He said this yesterday when he received the outgoing US Ambassador, Mr. James Entwistle, at the State House, adding that the US insistence on free, fair and violent-free elections largely contributed to the deepening of democracy in the country.
The president also attributed the success of the election to the former Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Attahiru Jega’s competence and courage.
“The US support, before, during and after the 2015 elections was vital to Nigeria’s stability and I will never forget the role they played in the stability of Nigeria.
“We were lucky to have had an INEC chairman who was competent and courageous.
“Mr. Ambassador, you occupied a position at a very strategic time in Nigeria’s history and I hope our historians will record this because it meant so much for our stability.
“I hope you write a book on your experience in Nigeria. The commitment of U.S in supporting Nigeria has been unprecedented,” he said.
President Buhari also thanked the Americans for their military, intelligence and humanitarian support to Nigeria on the ongoing fight against Boko Haram insurgency.
He said Nigeria also valued US contributions to promoting regional peace and stability through the instrumentality of the G7.
Entwistle in his remarks had expressed his concerns over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the North East with looming reports of food crisis and malnutrition.
He had also said the bilateral relationship between both countries had remained very vibrant and cordial.
“I had a marvellous three-and-half years in Nigeria and I am grateful to have been involved in the memorable elections in 2015,” he said.
In a related development, President Buhari has commented Canadian government’s humanitarian assistance to internally displaced persons in the North East, and their commitment to polio eradication in the country.
He gave the commendation when he received in audience the outgoing High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Ambassador Perry Calderwood.
He highlighted the Federal Government’s effort to facilitate voluntary return of displaced persons in addition to ensuring that conditions in North-eastern Nigeria improve significantly before the next farming season.
Calderwood had also expressed concerns on poor humanitarian situation in the North East as well as possible food crisis and malnutrition.
He conveyed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s desire to strengthen ties with Nigeria in Canada’s quest for partnership on international engagements, including its bid for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council, 2021-2022.