A new bill that provides specific timeline for the presentation, consideration and enactment of national budgets is currently before the National Assembly.
The proposal which is being given expeditious consideration by the legislature also stipulates penalties including impeachment for non-implementation of national budgets.
The bill which emanated from reports of the National Institute for Legislative Studies (NILS) after series of engagements with stakeholders on the budget process, made it clear that the lack of sufficient and comprehensive regulatory framework for the budget process have become hurdles to the budget process in Nigeria.
But in a swift reaction, the Presidency described the proposed penalties as unrealistic, pointing out that implementation of budget is based on availability of funds.
At an interactive session with social media influencers and civil society organisations on Appropriation/Budget Reform Process on Tuesday in Abuja, Director General NILS Director-General, Ladi Hamalai, informed stakeholders that the bill produced from the Institute’s reports has been accepted by the two chambers of the National Assembly for enactment into law.
In his submission, Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Ita Enang, argued that because the budget is a mere statement of expectation, it would be difficult to sanction anybody for not implementing it.
Section 33 of the bill stipulates that anybody found to have breached any of the budget processes would be deemed to have committed an act of misconduct.
Sanctions provided in Section 35 of the bill against any public officer, legislator, or civil servants found to have committed such acts of misconduct include impeachment, suspension from office, written warning, removal of chairmanship of committee and termination of employment.
Specifically, the proposal provides that the budget should be submitted to the National Assembly by the President not later than first week of September while it should be passed into law not later than second week of December.
The President, according to the bill, should assent to the bill not later than 30th of December.
It lists such acts of misconduct which include failure to implement a budget project where appropriated funds are available to implement such project; failure to take reasonable care or necessary steps to ensure that there is compliance with this law by one’s institution, colleagues or subordinates; non-compliance with the budget process calendar; refusal to carry out official duty and as a incapacitated or prevent another official, public servant or civil servant from discharging his function under the bill.
The legislation made it clear that “a person who without lawful authority or approval given in accordance with this bill alters or otherwise tempers with the report of a committee or sub-committee with intent to mislead or gain an advantage or benefit commits an offense.”
It also states that “a person who unlawfully provides, offers, solicits or accepts anything of value for a direct or indirect benefit.
“A person, who takes any action, expresses or indicates illness to take an action for the purpose of intimidating or harming socially, financially or otherwise, any person wholly or partly for the purpose of influencing a decision on the budget process or the use or expenditure of any public money commits an offense”.
Economic experts say delay in approval and signing of the budget, affects economic growth.
At the moment, the 2018 budget defence is ongoing, as lawmakers were unable to pass the appropriation bill by December 31, 2017 as pleaded by President Muhammadu Buhari.
