2016 BUDGET BROUHAHA, THE WAY FORWARD

Nigeria, April 12, 2016 – Just before the end of last week, feelers emerged from various sources about how the National Assembly had tampered with the 2016 budget proposals of President Muhammadu Buhari ‘s administration and that this exercise of its constitutional functions by the legislature was inimical to the implementation of the goals and objective of the 2016 budget.

The information making the rounds then was that, the executive was going to return the budget back to the legislature to make amends and corrections so that the vision of the 2016 budget in ameliorating the human condition of the Nigerian people could be met.

And just on Monday 11/04/2016, our fears and anxiety about the delay in the passage of the 2016 budget which has become a source of national concern was confirmed as Nigerians were shocked and aghast to learn from the executive via the media that the National Assembly had tampered with the 2016 budget submissions in a manner which makes the realization of the budget goals, unrealistic and a mockery of legislative responsibility.

Before we go further, it is important to reiterate that we are very much aware of the constitutional responsibility of the legislature to scrutinize and vet proposals on appropriation of public finances that have to be submitted to it by the executive for the sake of transparency and accountability which are critical ingredients in a democracy.

However, this latest embarrassing episode is another in the series which have trailed the 2016 budget and calls for concern by patriots on the way forward because of the fact that the whole essence of government is about the welfare of the people, nothing else.

For our education, the budget is an estimate of government expenditure and income within a financial year. In other words, it’s about the allocation of public resources for the improvement of the living conditions of the people, but to realize that some people have decided to play games with the economy destiny of over 160 million persons, calls into question their sense of responsibility and humanity.

So, the questions bordering our minds as Nigerians and which we should demand answers to, is that, what is the whole essence of the budget defence exercise by the executive before the legislative committees? Is this exercise carried out with utmost sense of seriousness and responsibility for the interest of the citizenry or otherwise?

For all we know, the constitutional duty of the legislature requires that after the submission of the budget proposal by the executive, the legislature then revert the budget to its various committees to hold sittings to scrutinize, amend, remove and alter the budget proposals submitted, but she is expected to behave responsibly by carrying out this function in conjunction with the executive during the budget defence of the various ministries, departments and agencies since the whole essence of its function is for the good governance of the society.

The National Assembly committee hearings on budget defence by the MDA’S is supposed to be the clearing house for reconciling grey areas of the estimates and items for transparency, responsibility, accountability and promotion of good governance. It is through this medium that the legislature and the executive reach a melting point on the way forward on budgeted items and costs which is then transmuted to the whole house for debate and culminates in approval and passage of the budget for Presidential assent.

However, with the alterations and modifications to the 2016 budget which is against the accomplishment of its goals, the National Assembly has thus conducted itself in a manner which is at variance with its responsibility of making laws for the good governance of the Nigerian state and it’s rather unfortunate.

We are even appalled and disappointed that the spokespersons of both houses of the National Assembly behaved irresponsibly and dishonourably by embarking on misinformation and personal attacks against the executive, when public decorum dictates that they should exercise caution on such a matter of national importance instead of personalizing it.

Fortunately, their statements of declaration of war against the executive on the 2016 budget was punctured by the admission of Senator Gbenga Ashafa on the Lagos Calabar rail project and one only hopes they will toe the Honourable and distinguish path of tendering public apologies to the Nigerian people for bringing our exalted National Assembly and democracy to public opprobrium.
Thus, it behooves on Nigerians to call the National Assembly to order to immediately reconvene and make the necessary corrections to the 2016 budget in line with the submissions of the executive instead of working at cross purposes as though they have a responsibility for functions other than the good of the Nigerian people.

We must also admonish the executive to find a way of rapprochement with the legislature which is a critical partner for good governance and avoid further communication breakdown which is inimical to societal good, harmony and development.

Nigerians must as well take their destiny in their hands by being eternally vigilant on the running of the affairs of the country by elected and appointed public office holders who don’t have a greater stake than the ordinary man or woman on the street because like our people say, the way, you make your bed, is the way you will lie on it. We must be dispassionate in our interventions on issues and not indulge in sentiments and interests which inhibits our national development.

Nelson Ekujumi is a public affairs analyst.