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Members of the House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously resolved to defer the passage of the 2018-2020 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper (FSP) to next Tuesday, to enable members to make input. Speaker Yakubu Dogara who presided over the plenary session observed that the debate on the policy documents which commenced on Tuesday has not been exhausted.
He added that the standing committees would not have the adequate information to engage all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the budget estimates submitted by President Muhammadu Buhari, without passing the MTEF and embark on oversight of various projects implemented so far in the 2017 fiscal year.
“The MTEF has not been sorted out even if we adjourn today, there is no legal basis for the committees to work. We will continue the debate on Tuesday before we round upon the budget,” the Speaker said.
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Speaking earlier, some of the lawmakers who spoke across party lines, argued that the 2018 Appropriation bill lacks appropriate financial stimuli sufficient to get Nigeria out of economic woods, just as they frowned at high debt profile estimated at over N20 trillion.
In his remarks, Pally Iriase, Majority Deputy Whip emphasised the need to scrutinize the 2017 budget performance before embarking on the consideration of the 2018 budget proposal. “The debate so far has witnessed a lot of sound bites, some of which are unserious proposal and stuff like that. Despite all these, we have a job to do Mr Speaker; this budget comes on the heels of 2017 which has witnessed the quite abysmally low performance. “There is no doubt about that. The reason for this is not farfetched. Whatever that was in 2017 that was not carried out would be rolled in full into 2018. Our chairmen will do well to put side by side with the 2018 budget and compare and ensure that MDAs did not just wave off provisions for 2018.
“We must as a House consider this very seriously. If we do this, it will help to curb the spate of abandoned projects and help the lives of our people for the better,” the Edo lawmaker noted. In his contributions, Goni Lawal (APC-Yobe), said that capital expenditure package was commendable. “I stand before the House to support the second reading of the budget. 30 per cent of the budget is set aside for capital expenditure. This is commendable.
“Government, in the budget has made provision to complete projects in Enugu, Anambra and Kebbi States. 2018 budget is expected to consolidate on the gains of government and ensure the completion of on-going projects.” In his contribution, Johnson Agbonayinma (PDP-Edo), who described the poor implementation of the 2017 budget as porous and unacceptable, observed that “out of the capital projects in 2017 budget, only N400 billion was released. The recurrent expenditure has been on the increase. It is bad for the government to borrow for debt service.
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“Government must lay more emphasises on our production sector. The government must make sure that peace reigns in Nigeria so that production will not be cut short. We must develop our country. This is the time to support Mr President for the country to succeed,” he urged.
Also speaking, Lawal Abubakar (APC-Adamawa), who emphasised that all revenues leakages should be blocked, commended President Buhari on his “dream for a new Nigeria. There is also a need for us to block all the leakages in the system.”
In submission, Nnanna Igbokwe (PDP-Imo), called for the provision of funds for Imo airport, saying that, “as a budget tagged budget of consolidation by the government, a lot is expected of it. I wish to state that in the provision made for an entry point, no provision was made for Imo Airport. “We now have a Naval Base in Imo. For youth development, a paltry sum of N40 million is being provided, this doesn’t augur well for the nation.”
KEHINDE AKINTOLA, Abuja
