2017 Budget: Senate Summons Buhari's Ministers, Adeosun and Udoma...Find Out Why

Finance Minister, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and her Budget and National Planning counterpart, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma have been invited to brief the Senate on the implementation of the 2017 budget.

Adeosun and Udoma

 

On the resumption of its plenary on Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate summoned the Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun; and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udo Udoma, to brief it on the implementation of the 2017 Appropriation Act.

 

The Senate scored the Executive low on implementation of the national budget, especially for what it called the inadequate releases for capital projects.

 

This was contained in a motion moved by Senator Gbenga Ashafa (Lagos-East), entitled, ‘Inadequate Releases in the 2017 Budget and the Need to Expedite Releases in Order to Stimulate the Economy,’ which was adopted by the lawmakers.

 

The Senate President who said that the invitation of the two ministers became necessary in order for senators to be abreast with the level of implementation of the 2017 budget, also asked senators to always stand for the unity and indivisibility of the country as well as condemn in the strongest term all forms of violence.

 

Saraki said: “By the first week of October, we expect to begin the review of the implementation of the 2017 budget. To set the stage for this, we expect to invite the Ministers of Finance and Budget Planning to come and brief the Senate on implementation so far. Nigerians want to see a more significant improvement in the level of implementation of the budget this financial year. Let me therefore use this opportunity to call on all our standing committees to begin the process of putting together their oversight plan for a close and proper review of the performance of the 2017 Budget. In the same token, we must remind ourselves of the initiative we started and for which we have significant stride – that is, the Made in Nigeria initiative. It is time to enter the next stage of this initiative; the oversight of implementation to ensure that the policy yields expected gains.

 

"I will like therefore to see the committees demonstrate proactivity and readiness to engage government to ensure that at least a significant portion of our annual budget is fully dedicated to local procurement. All committees of the Senate must be involved in this and find better channels to engage our people and enable feedbacks. However, for these efforts to be successful it is required that we maintain peace and political stability. Hence the need for all of us to fight to keep Nigeria united and prosperous.

 

“Distinguished colleagues, a house divided against itself will not stand. More than ever before, we need to stand for the unity and indivisibility of our country. We must condemn in the strongest possible terms all forms of violence as a form of engagement. The Constitution and laws have laid down tools and procedures for us to push through our interest as all democratic nations do. Our nation is blessed with exceptionally talented and beautiful people, we are collectively strong and indomitable and it is time for all of us to stand up for our nation. Our dream of a virile nation must keep us motivated and this dream is already at the horizon.”

 

The Senate unanimously adopted a prayer of the motion to “request that the Honourable Minister of Finance and the Honourable Minister of Budget and National Planning appear before the Senate in plenary immediately to brief the Senate on the cause of the inadequate releases and steps being taken to expedite release of funds for the capital component of the 2017 Appropriation Act.”

 

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, in his remarks on the motion, asked the Majority Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan, to immediately write Adeosun and Udoma.