Senate Begins Process To Reappraise National Assembly’s Budget

The Senate in Nigeria has set up an ad-hoc committee to reappraise the structure of the National Assembly budget by making it more open and ensure that the parliament’s budget is in line with economic realities.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, announced the plan on Tuesday at the resumption of plenary after a two-week recess.

It was the beginning of an era for the lawmakers, as the Senators exchanged pleasantries at the commencement of plenaries, after election of principal officers.

But beneath the surface of the warm welcome was an aura of division among lawmakers of the ruling All Progressives Congress.

The dust is yet to settle over the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki and Senator Ike Ekweremadu as Senate and Deputy Senate President.

Nevertheless, legislative business has to go on.

At the resumption of plenary, the Senate President addressed an issue which had been making headlines across Nigeria. The allowances of the federal lawmakers had raised eyebrows in many quarters.

Senator Saraki said setting up the committee was in response to media reports of the last few days on the allowances of lawmakers.

The Eight Senate is resuming at a time of continuing fall in oil price and associated reduction in revenue that is taking its toll on the economy of the states.

Workers in the states have become scapegoats in the face of dwindling revenue, as many state governments are owing workers several months’ salary.

The Senate President wants the Senate to rise to address the problem, announcing the immediate composition of the 18-man committee, comprising of three Senators from each geopolitical zone.

They are to immediately draw up a legislative agenda for the Eight Senate within a week to give the Senate focus and cohesion in pursuing its targets.