I humbly submit that there is nothing (and there cannot be anything), like padding Nigeria’s Budget the way it is being currently and unashamedly peddled. It is alarming that the noise is gaining such momentum as to distract governance, the legislators and the anti-graft agencies.
The noise would appear to be a product of convenient ignorance on the part of those who are expected to know but are dancing to the Padding music for whatever reasons.
That a legal practitioner will appear on television (Channels T.V circa 1st August 2016) to trumpet what he called “forgery of the budget” or ‘budget forgery’ is nonsensical. It throws dirt, variously, on all Nigerians and of course, the Country.
The president of the federal republic of Nigeria, via the executive arm of government, owes Nigeria annual budgets and the duty to execute/implement the budgets, after the presidency’ final approval. The “draft budget” (at stage of preparation) only becomes a Budget for implementation after the President’s assent! The NASS, along with its constitutional role, can make and defend inputs like other arms of government, which are accepted or rejected by the Executive arm.
You cannot pad a budget you did not prepare or that you are not responsible for.
It is that simple!
Austen Udu Lee Omamegbe
