Reps knocks Buhari over implementation of 2017 budget

*Begins 2028 budget debate

The House of Representatives on Tuesday, commenced debate on the general principles of the 2018 Appropriation Bill with lawmakers putting aside party loyalty by carpeting the nation’s budgeting system and lamenting the poor implementation of the 2017 budget by the Buhari administration.

The lawmakers voiced their frustrations at the commencement of the debate on the general principles of the 2018 appropriation bill.
Individually, the lawmakers in their contributions were unanimous in accusing the executive of violating the Appropriation Act, and for selectively implementing the budget as passed by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari.

They enumerated several infractions committed by the executive arm of government and its inaction not to implement the budget, particularly in view of the then prevailing harsh economic indications that the country was in recession.

Lawmakers faulted the skewed method of budgeting in the country where recurrent expenditure continues to increase against a dismal proportion allocated to capital expenditure which in their view is the only source through which Nigerians can benefit from the country’s budgeting system.

Rep. Abubakar Ahmed from Bornu state while commended the paradigm shift that led to an increase in capital votes, however frowned at the astronomical increase in recurrent expenditure.
He warned that the only way to develop the country is to increase capital expenditure and reduce recurrent expenditure, adding that besides the paying of salaries and allowances, other items contained in the recurrent list like purchase of office equipments and oversea trips were unnecessary and a huge waste of scarce resources.

In his contribution, Rep. Abubakar Chika Adamu, condemned the increase in recurrent expenditure as well as the huge debt servicing ratio of the budget and the high deficit financing of the 2018 budget.

According to him, it was high time both the legislature and executive sit down to do a proper budget that will benefit every Nigerian, instead of the present scenario where the national budget dishes out palliatives to the people rather than building super structures that will last the test of time for the people.

Similarly, Rep. Mohammed Monguno from Bornu state, lamented the non-implementation of the 2017 budget, despite indicators from the NNPC and the FIRS, showing that there have been increased revenue to finance the budget at least up to 60 per cent.

“No matter how beautiful the budget is, it remains in the realm of estimates,” he said, adding that the 2017 budget implementation is a failure.
He said that parliament can only be responsive and responsible if it discharges its responsibility of effective oversight and called on his colleagues to redouble their efforts during the next round of oversight to do the needful that will determine their inputs when considering the 2018 budget estimate.

Earlier Leader of the House, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila had said the general,principles of the budget was to consolidate on previous ones, specifically now that the country has moved out of recession.
He said the 2018 budget of N8.612 trn will deliver on the objectives of the Buhari administration.

Predicated on an oil output of 2.3million metric tonnes per day and a $45 oil benchmark and N305 exchange rate, Gbajabiamila noted that the bill is for an Act to authorize the issuance of N8.612triiion of which N456bn is for statutory transfer, N2,233,835trn is for debt service, N3,494,272,820,219trn for recurrent (non -debt) expenditure, while the sum of, N2,427,655,113,222trn only is for contribution to the development fund for capital expenditure for the year ending on 31 December, 2018.

Henry Omunu, Abuja