A house of representatives panel has warned government
ministries, departments and agencies (MDAS) against tampering with
the revised 2020 budget
In a statement, the house committee on appropriations said there
are reports that MDAs are making adjustments in their various
budgets following the review by the federal government.
Although President Muhammadu Buhari had presented N10.59
trillion budget for 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the downward
review of the budget to suit “emerging realities”.
The house appropriations committee through Betara Aliyu, its
chairman, said MDAs making adjustments in their budget without the
authorisation of the national assembly would be dealt with.
Aliyu said: “There were reports that following the downward
review of the budget from N10.59 trillion to N10.52 trillion due to
the COVID-19 crisis and the dwindling oil prices, some MDAs were
already adjusting the budget proposal to suit their needs.
“Such acts will not be condoned by the National Assembly as any
MDA or official found to be engaged in such illegal practices will
be made to face the music.
“I want to warn that no other arm or department of government
has any power over budget except the legislature, which is the
National Assembly. It is only the National Assembly that can review
the budget and we have begun the process.
“I would like to refresh the memory of those erring MDAs or
officers of the Executive that sections 80-84 of the 1999
constitution (as amended) confer appropriation powers on the
parliament as well as its responsibilities over the national purse.
So, nobody should engage any unlawful act concerning the
budget.”
A house of representatives panel has warned government
ministries, departments and agencies (MDAS) against tampering with
the revised 2020 budget
In a statement, the house committee on appropriations said there
are reports that MDAs are making adjustments in their various
budgets following the review by the federal government.
Although President Muhammadu Buhari had presented N10.59
trillion budget for 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the downward
review of the budget to suit “emerging realities”.
The house appropriations committee through Betara Aliyu, its
chairman, said MDAs making adjustments in their budget without the
authorisation of the national assembly would be dealt with.
Aliyu said: “There were reports that following the downward
review of the budget from N10.59 trillion to N10.52 trillion due to
the COVID-19 crisis and the dwindling oil prices, some MDAs were
already adjusting the budget proposal to suit their needs.
“Such acts will not be condoned by the National Assembly as any
MDA or official found to be engaged in such illegal practices will
be made to face the music.
“I want to warn that no other arm or department of government
has any power over budget except the legislature, which is the
National Assembly. It is only the National Assembly that can review
the budget and we have begun the process.
“I would like to refresh the memory of those erring MDAs or
officers of the Executive that sections 80-84 of the 1999
constitution (as amended) confer appropriation powers on the
parliament as well as its responsibilities over the national purse.
So, nobody should engage any unlawful act concerning the
budget.”