Lawmakers not responsible for padding 2016 budget - Rep Namdas

ben adhoc

February 23, 2016 3:59 PM

In fact, we should be commended for identifying some areas that became problematic and we are working hand in hand with the executive to see how we can solve this problem in the best interest of this country.

Chambers of the Nigerian House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives on Tuesday said that lawmakers were not responsible for the padding of the 2016 budget proposal.

Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (APC-Adamawa), the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said this when he visited the Headquarters of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Namdas expressed concern over conflicting figures discovered in the budget proposal, saying that the legislature was committed to addressing the anomalies.

He said that the sacking of some personnel in the Budget Office had vindicated the lawmakers from the misconception that the National Assembly was responsible for padding the budget.

"This problem is not with the National Assembly, so the padding is not done by the National assembly.

"In fact, we should be commended for identifying some areas that became problematic and we are working hand in hand with the executive to see how we can solve this problem in the best interest of this country.

"And that is why we had to shift the idea of passing the budget by Feb. 25, because we realised there were conflicting issues,’’ Namdas said.

According to the lawmaker, NASS must tinker with the budget to address the issues of conflicting figures.

"We realised that figures were not agreeing; some ministers disowned budgets that were prepared by them and if you look at the quantum of the problem, we cannot just pass this budget,’’ Namdas said.

ben adhoc