The 2017 Appropriation Bill may be passed before May 2017.Chairman,
Senate Committee on
Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje, who disclosed
this yesterday warned heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs) to desist from the practice of “mopping up” of funds at the end
of March, 2017.
The lawmaker said that the lifespan of the 2016 budget would end on
May 5, 2017.Goje said the National Assembly maybe compelled to extend
the validity period of the budget, in the event that it is unable to
pass the 2017 Appropriation Bill on or before the midnight of May 5,
2017.
He said: “Last year, when we were producing this 2016 Appropriation
Bill, we realized that at the end of each year, there were usually
requests for an extension of the budget from the executive. To avoid
that, we decided to incorporate this new thing.
“In the 2016 Appropriation Act, which President Muhammadu Buhari
signed into law, clause 11 of it says that “in line with the provisions
of Section 318 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999, as amended, this bill will run for a period of 12 months, starting
from the day it is assented into law.”
The Senate committee on Appropriation, for instance, is yet to get
reports from all the standing committees on the 2017 budget. Meanwhile,
the National Assembly and human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome have asked
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to show
accountability by letting Nigerians know the assets it has so far
recovered and their worth.
Chairman, Senate Committee on Anti Corruption and Financial Crimes,
Senator Chukwuka Utazi set the tone for the demand at the maiden
national anti corruption stakeholders’ summit hosted by the EFCC in Karu
yesterday.
According to him, making such records available to stakeholders,
especially the legislature will ensure transparency. He said the fight
against corruption should be done with strategies and technical
competence devoid of sensation of arrest and media trials that negate
the rights of being innocent until proven guilty.
Corroborating this stance was Mike Ozekhome, whose funds are
currently frozen by the commission. He said media trials are against the
rule of law and should be avoided by EFCC.
Ozekhome stated that to arrest the suspect prior to getting the
evidence, and keeping him in custody to extract information, force him
to confess or part with certain money is not the rule of law.
“We need to know the amount being recovered because there is this
belief that recovered houses are sold to cronies at give away prices,”
he said.Chairman House Committee on Anti Corruption and Financial
Crimes, Kayode Oladele urged the EFCC to focus more on the change of
attitude among Nigerians rather than prosecution alone.
Oladele noted that with a change in the value system, a lot can be
achieved better than endless amendment of laws.Keynote speaker, former
Governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole, commended the EFCC for its
efforts so far, at fighting corruption despite the allegations of
corruption leveled against its leadership.
He stated that the leadership and political will demonstrated by
President Muhammadu Buhari has ensured that certain categories of people
who were hitherto untouchable, are now answering to corruption charges
in the courts.
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