Don’t Dump 2017 Budget, Dogara Tells FG

On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu
Dogara, called on the executive arm of government to press on with
its efforts at implementing 2017 budget, saying its fiscal targets
must be enforced and the provisions complied with as approved by
the National Assembly.

Dogara also expressed hope that the passage of the 2018 budget
does not suffer delays that may be occasioned by inadequate
consultations between Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
and over-sighting committees of the National Assembly.

In his remarks during the presentation of the 2018 budget
estimates by President Buhari at the National Assembly, the Speaker
also called for policy consistency for a more sustainable economic
growth.

He said, “Mr. President, as legislators, what agitates us is the
prospects of totally abandoning the 2017 Budget and the dire
consequences of doing so. The questions that must be answered
include whether we have effectively enforced 2017 fiscal targets
and whether managers have complied with the budget as authorized by
the legislature.

“Our experience with the implementation of the 2016 Budget amply
demonstrates that obeying our Appropriation Laws maximizes the
release of our potentials while violating the Appropriation Laws
caps the release of our national potentials.

“This means that we have to redouble our efforts in implementing
the 2017 Budget, if we must retire it in January or at the very
least rollover most of the projects in 2017 budget to 2018. No need
to remind us that fiscal indiscipline is as grievous as corruption
which this government is busy eliminating”.

On the preparation of the budget, Dogara said, “Once again, let
me place it on record that the 2018 Budget preparations suffer from
inadequate consultations between the MDAS and various over-
sighting Committees of the National Assembly.

“Consequently, one can only hope and pray that it does not lead
to delay in consideration and passage of the Budget”.

He also lauded President Buhari for executing the 2016 budget in
line with the provisions of section 318 of the constitution, which
requires the budget to last for 12 months.

According to him, this helped the executive to report an
accomplishment of over N5 trillion expenditure out of the N7.4
trillion budgeted for 2016, an unprecedented record by all
standards, made possible only because the execution of the budget
was allowed to last for 12 months.

“That is what the National Assembly has always called for in
line with the original intent of the framers of our constitution”,
he added.

Speaking further, Dogara asserted that there is no national
challenge that Nigeria cannot overcome if the executive and
legislature work together, noting that failure to do so only
hinders progress.

While commending lawmakers for displaying true leadership
qualities, patriotism and a sense of national purpose by providing
a peaceful environment for President Buhari to deliver his budget
address, amidst a hazy relationship between the two arms, Dogara
also acknowledged the newly appointed Secretary to the Government
of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, for visiting the leadership
of both Houses of the National Assembly to canvass support for
government policies and to strengthen the often “strained
Executive-Legislative relations”.

He continued: “This is the way we must go as our constitutional
order is organed in a way that deliberately denies any of the three
arms the strength to go at it alone on any major national issue.
Where that has happened, it’s progress that suffers. That reminds
us of the adage that says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone but if
you want to go far, go together.

“Examples abound on how fast but not far, the Executive have
gone on some national issues where they have decided to go alone.
There is no national challenge we cannot overcome if we work
together”.

On his part, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu
Dogara, called on the executive arm of government to press on with
its efforts at implementing 2017 budget, saying its fiscal targets
must be enforced and the provisions complied with as approved by
the National Assembly.

Dogara also expressed hope that the passage of the 2018 budget
does not suffer delays that may be occasioned by inadequate
consultations between Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
and over-sighting committees of the National Assembly.

In his remarks during the presentation of the 2018 budget
estimates by President Buhari at the National Assembly, the Speaker
also called for policy consistency for a more sustainable economic
growth.

He said, “Mr. President, as legislators, what agitates us is the
prospects of totally abandoning the 2017 Budget and the dire
consequences of doing so. The questions that must be answered
include whether we have effectively enforced 2017 fiscal targets
and whether managers have complied with the budget as authorized by
the legislature.

“Our experience with the implementation of the 2016 Budget amply
demonstrates that obeying our Appropriation Laws maximizes the
release of our potentials while violating the Appropriation Laws
caps the release of our national potentials.

“This means that we have to redouble our efforts in implementing
the 2017 Budget, if we must retire it in January or at the very
least rollover most of the projects in 2017 budget to 2018. No need
to remind us that fiscal indiscipline is as grievous as corruption
which this government is busy eliminating”.

On the preparation of the budget, Dogara said, “Once again, let
me place it on record that the 2018 Budget preparations suffer from
inadequate consultations between the MDAS and various over-
sighting Committees of the National Assembly.

“Consequently, one can only hope and pray that it does not lead
to delay in consideration and passage of the Budget”.

He also lauded President Buhari for executing the 2016 budget in
line with the provisions of section 318 of the constitution, which
requires the budget to last for 12 months.

According to him, this helped the executive to report an
accomplishment of over N5 trillion expenditure out of the N7.4
trillion budgeted for 2016, an unprecedented record by all
standards, made possible only because the execution of the budget
was allowed to last for 12 months.

“That is what the National Assembly has always called for in
line with the original intent of the framers of our constitution”,
he added.

Speaking further, Dogara asserted that there is no national
challenge that Nigeria cannot overcome if the executive and
legislature work together, noting that failure to do so only
hinders progress.

While commending lawmakers for displaying true leadership
qualities, patriotism and a sense of national purpose by providing
a peaceful environment for President Buhari to deliver his budget
address, amidst a hazy relationship between the two arms, Dogara
also acknowledged the newly appointed Secretary to the Government
of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, for visiting the leadership
of both Houses of the National Assembly to canvass support for
government policies and to strengthen the often “strained
Executive-Legislative relations”.

He continued: “This is the way we must go as our constitutional
order is organed in a way that deliberately denies any of the three
arms the strength to go at it alone on any major national issue.
Where that has happened, it’s progress that suffers. That reminds
us of the adage that says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone but if
you want to go far, go together.

“Examples abound on how fast but not far, the Executive have
gone on some national issues where they have decided to go alone.
There is no national challenge we cannot overcome if we work
together”.