On Thursday, drama continued at the budget defence sessions
by different committees in the House of Representatives.
The National Assembly is working towards ensuring passage of
the N13.08trillion 2021 budget before the expiration of the 2020 budget by
December 31st, 2020.
Buhari’s Aide and N26.9billion SDG budget:
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable
Development Goals and former deputy governor of Lagos State, Orelope-Adefulire
explained to the lawmakers how COVID19 stalled SDG projects during budget
defence before the committee on SDGs.
She disclosed that her office only got N3billion out of the
N26.9billion budgeted for intervention projects to be executed by SDG office.
He further revealed why Rivers State was excluded from
intervention on COVID19. She blamed the state government for not cooperating
with her office.
“We provided 100 beds and facemask for every state except
Rivers State because it does not cooperate with us. I don’t really know what
the problem is, if we take anything to them, they don’t accept. But I’m making
out time to meet with the governor,” she stated.
Following series of questions from the lawmakers, she was
saved by the Chairman of the Committee, Rotimi Agunsoye, who is from Lagos.
Fashola defends Julius Berger on Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Express:
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola on
Thursday revealed why the ongoing Abuja-Kaduna-Kano expressway has been going
at slow pace.
It would be recalled that many have criticized Julius
Berger, the German construction giant handling the project of slow pace. The
House in 2019 summoned Julius Berger over the project.
Fashola at the budget defence before the committee explained
that the construction company is dealing demolition of houses, right of passage
and high rate of vehicular movement on the road.
Committee fumes as Aviation Minister fails to comply with
directive:
The defence of the Budget of the Ministry of Aviation was
postponed on Thursday after the Minister of Aviation, Hadi Serika failed to
comply with the directive of the Committee.
According to the Chairman of the Committee on Avaition,
Nnolim Nnaji, the Ministry of Aviation submitted its budget on Thursday against
the directive of the Committee which asked all MDAs to submit budget before the
day of defence.
“Honourable Minister, l don’t know how you expect us to
continue this meeting since we just got your 2021 budget proposal this morning
despite giving you over a week notice so that we can read through and digest it
before today.
“I am not blaming you for this but l must say that I am
disappointed in those who are supposed to have handled this but failed to do
their jobs”, he stated.
The committee on Aviation should send the minister back to return in a week's time. Such disregard to procedure is deliberate and has characterised the public life. The Aviation minister finds complying to due process or procedure difficult. The minister has poor orientation, character or thinks should be treated differently. I am sure there are things in the budget that the minister probably want the committee not to notice and pass it like that.
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