The leadership of the National
Assembly and the presidency were locked in a crucial meeting last night, in a
last-minute effort to solve the 2013 budget imbroglio.
Assembly and the presidency were locked in a crucial meeting last night, in a
last-minute effort to solve the 2013 budget imbroglio.
The meeting, said to be at the
instance of President Goodluck Jonathan, was still in progress at press time.
instance of President Goodluck Jonathan, was still in progress at press time.
A source disclosed to LEADERSHIP
last night that the meeting might be the last between both arms of government,
but there were strong indications that a truce would be reached, leading to an
eventual signing of the bill into law by the president “probably before
weekend”.
last night that the meeting might be the last between both arms of government,
but there were strong indications that a truce would be reached, leading to an
eventual signing of the bill into law by the president “probably before
weekend”.
“There is an end in sight to
the budget impasse. Both camps are upbeat and are hopeful that the grey areas in
the budget bill would be sorted out,” said the source.
the budget impasse. Both camps are upbeat and are hopeful that the grey areas in
the budget bill would be sorted out,” said the source.
The NASS leadership led by the
president of the Senate is said to be armed with a clean copy of the bill as
requested by the president, a clear signal that an understanding was in the
offing.
president of the Senate is said to be armed with a clean copy of the bill as
requested by the president, a clear signal that an understanding was in the
offing.
The visit was also preceded by a
prolonged meeting between the minister of finance and coordinator of the
Economic Team, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the committees on appropriation of
both chambers yesterday in the Senate wing.
prolonged meeting between the minister of finance and coordinator of the
Economic Team, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and the committees on appropriation of
both chambers yesterday in the Senate wing.
The meeting held behind
closed-doors, but it was learnt that the meeting trashed out the contending
areas in the budget preparatory to the meeting between the leadership of NASS
and the president last night.
closed-doors, but it was learnt that the meeting trashed out the contending
areas in the budget preparatory to the meeting between the leadership of NASS
and the president last night.
The presidency had complained that
the legislators injected constituency projects into the budget as well as
reduced the personnel estimates submitted by the presidency.
the legislators injected constituency projects into the budget as well as
reduced the personnel estimates submitted by the presidency.
However, sources revealed that a
middle point approach to thaw the ice was being proposed: the presidency may
agree to sign the budget first and forward a supplementary budget, which would
be given expedited passage to take care of the shortfalls.
middle point approach to thaw the ice was being proposed: the presidency may
agree to sign the budget first and forward a supplementary budget, which would
be given expedited passage to take care of the shortfalls.
“It was not as if the budget was
bloated. No. What happened was that the reduction could have been that the
personnel cost was reduced to accommodate the constituency projects, which was
not adequately captured in the budget proposal submitted to by the president,”
added the source who would not want his name in print.
bloated. No. What happened was that the reduction could have been that the
personnel cost was reduced to accommodate the constituency projects, which was
not adequately captured in the budget proposal submitted to by the president,”
added the source who would not want his name in print.
The Senate subtly gave last
Tuesday as deadline for the president to sign the budget or risk being
overruled by it. The presidency, as a result, reached out to stem the tide,
which was capable of igniting an unending fight between both arms of
government.
Tuesday as deadline for the president to sign the budget or risk being
overruled by it. The presidency, as a result, reached out to stem the tide,
which was capable of igniting an unending fight between both arms of
government.
But the Senate declined to move
further, citing non-formal communication from the president on the exact status
of the bill as reason not to move ahead with the planned overriding of his
veto.
further, citing non-formal communication from the president on the exact status
of the bill as reason not to move ahead with the planned overriding of his
veto.
LEADERSHIP, however, learnt last
night that the presidency had reminded the NASS leadership that, after all, the
budget bill was held down in the National Assembly till the end of January, to
the consternation of most lawmakers. “The presidency may have been emboldened
by that discovery, which could have been the outcome of advice given by the
attorney-general of the federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN).
night that the presidency had reminded the NASS leadership that, after all, the
budget bill was held down in the National Assembly till the end of January, to
the consternation of most lawmakers. “The presidency may have been emboldened
by that discovery, which could have been the outcome of advice given by the
attorney-general of the federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN).
But the meeting between the
executive arm of government and the leadership of the National Assembly held at
the first lady’s wing of the presidential villa over the 2013 budget furore was
more private, as journalists were asked to leave venue of the meeting even
before it started.
executive arm of government and the leadership of the National Assembly held at
the first lady’s wing of the presidential villa over the 2013 budget furore was
more private, as journalists were asked to leave venue of the meeting even
before it started.
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, had arrived at
the venue of the meeting at about 8:44pm, but were later ushered to join Senate
President David Mark at the president’s residence.
Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, had arrived at
the venue of the meeting at about 8:44pm, but were later ushered to join Senate
President David Mark at the president’s residence.
Minister of finance and
coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, came to the
venue of the meeting from the
coordinating minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, came to the
venue of the meeting from the
president’s house alongside the
Director of Budget Office, Bright Okogu at about 9:40pm. As soon as they
entered the first lady’s conference room where the meeting was to hold,
journalists were asked to leave the premises.
Director of Budget Office, Bright Okogu at about 9:40pm. As soon as they
entered the first lady’s conference room where the meeting was to hold,
journalists were asked to leave the premises.
Also sighted at the meeting venue
were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Political
Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak and other presidential aides and few
ministers.
were Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; Political
Adviser to the President, Ahmed Gulak and other presidential aides and few
ministers.
Meanwhile, The Nigeria Governors’
Forum (NGF) will today deliberate on the constitution review process as well as
get an update on their ongoing litigation against the federal government over
what they termed illegal deduction from the Excess Crude Account (ECA).
Forum (NGF) will today deliberate on the constitution review process as well as
get an update on their ongoing litigation against the federal government over
what they termed illegal deduction from the Excess Crude Account (ECA).
The governors are also billed to
discuss the security situation in the country and the serious threat it poses
to the polio eradication campaign in the north.
discuss the security situation in the country and the serious threat it poses
to the polio eradication campaign in the north.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the
governors were troubled by the recent spate of attacks against health workers.
governors were troubled by the recent spate of attacks against health workers.
Nine polio vaccinators were killed
in Kano recently. Three doctors from North Korea were also murdered in
Potiskum, Yobe State.
in Kano recently. Three doctors from North Korea were also murdered in
Potiskum, Yobe State.
A source confided in LEADERSHIP
that the governors would also deliberate on the 2013 budget stalemate between
the executive and the legislature.
that the governors would also deliberate on the 2013 budget stalemate between
the executive and the legislature.
On constitution review, the
governors have declared their opposition to the autonomy of local governments
and canvassed the devolution of some powers to the states by the federal
government.
governors have declared their opposition to the autonomy of local governments
and canvassed the devolution of some powers to the states by the federal
government.
The governors had set up a
seven-man committee to interface with the National Assembly on the constitution
review.
seven-man committee to interface with the National Assembly on the constitution
review.
Source: Leadership
