2018 budget: Amendment by National Assembly unjustifiable – SERAP

The Socio-Economic Right and Accountability Project, SERAP, has reacted to the face-off between the National Assembly and President Muhammadu Buhari over 2018 Budget allocations.

President Buhari had, on Wednesday, while signing the 2018 budget, accused the National Assembly of injecting 6,403 projects of their own, totalling N578bn into the Appropriation Bill.

However National assembly responded justifying its alterations of the 2018 Budget.

Speaking on the recent development, SERAP in a statement by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni said there is no justifiable reason for alterations in the budget as presented by the President without National Assembly seeking clarifications from the executive.

Mumuni described such action by the National Assembly as against their constitutional responsibilities, and therefore should not be pardoned.

Mumuni said, “When matters like this happen, we have to take a look at how it obtained in the First Republic till now. The issue of budget preparation is entirely a role for the executive. The legislature we have today has perfected ways to rise against the executive.

“The National Assembly cannot be a joint presenter of the budget and still be in a position to approve it. What we expect is that the legislature must consult with the executive.”

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