Reps Won’t Reject Buhari’s Supplementary Budget, Says Gbajabiamila, Ogor

The House of Representatives on Thursday said that there was no likelihood that lawmakers would reject President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 supplementary budget when submitted.

Both the House Majority Leader and Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila and Leo Ogor respectively, said the budget would be entertained by the House.
To underscore the House of Reps’ readiness, Gbajabiamila said that President Buhari could even bring both the supplementary budget and the 2016 budget proposals at the same time.
“I am sure the President can bring both supplementary and new budget proposals. Constitutionally, the life of the 2015 budget ends December 31 and a supplementary budget can be brought anytime before then.
“This does not stop the presentation of the 2016 budget at same time”, the House leader added.
In his own submission, Ogor stated that the House expected President Buhari to be detailed about the sources of funding for the supplementary budget, considering the “embarrassing implementation” of the main 2015 budget.
Ogor added, “This is October, we will welcome a supplementary budget with less than three months to the end of the year.
“This is because, the 1999 Constitution does not spell out a time frame for the submission of a supplementary budget.
“Of course, we will scrutinise the supplementary budget, being our duty to do so.
“There are issues with the 2015 budget and the poor implementation. Naturally, we will ask questions as we welcome the supplementary budget”.
Indications that President Buhari may forward a supplementary budget to the National Assembly emerged on Sunday.
“A letter has been written to the National Assembly suggesting a supplementary budget and the President will sign the letter when he returns to Nigeria”, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, had revealed.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan had signed a 2015 budget of N4.4tn shortly before he handed over on May 29.