Buhari To Amend 2016 Budget

A Senior Special Assistant on National Assembly (House of Representatives) to President Muhammadu Buhari, Sumaila Kawu, on Thursday said the president would make some adjustments to the 2016 Budget proposal.

Since the resumption of the National Assembly from recess on Monday, there has been controversy over the whereabouts of the proposed budget documents, presented before a joint session of the National Assembly by the president in December.

The senate on Thursday accused another presidential aide of submitting a version of the budget different from the copy presented by the president.

Mr. Kawu said the president would amend the proposal to reflect the current oil prices.

“We made a proposal of $38 per barrel, now it’s $27; so there must be adjustment.

“If in the process of the budgeting period, the National Assembly or the Executive discovers anything not practicable or deserving adjustment, then it will be amended. Budget is always subject to amendment.

“You can’t foreclose any amendment. We must amend. Even without dwindling oil revenue, the budget must be amended. It is a man-made document, therefore there must be an amendment,” he said.

On why the National Assembly has not started deliberating on the budget, he said, “You need to be clear on what to deliberate on. There is no need for rush as the National Assembly will make consultations with all relevant international bodies”.

He said the first action the National Assembly would do is to debate the general principle of the budget, while the second action is discussing the nitty-gritty of the budget by a committee after the adjustments.

“Whenever there is need for the amendment of the proposal by the presidency, it will be done. There is no hidden agenda and nothing was missing,” he added.