Our Legislators Will No Longer Block 2014 Budget Following Mbu’s Redeployment – Gbajabiamila
Editor
Posted On Feb 10, 2014
Legislators of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the national Assembly who have been acting on their party’s directive to block the passage of the 2014 budget, and consequently refused to approve the capital and police votes in the budget, have reconsidered their stance.
The decision was influenced by the redeployment of former Rivers State Police Commissioner, Mbu Joseph Mbu, whose previous retention in the state was one of the reasons the party wanted its members to obstruct the budget.
A statement from Olanrewaju Smart, an aide to the House Minority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said the tough stance on the removal of Mbu as a precondition for the smooth passage of the budget had yielded results to the benefit of Nigerians.
“Now we can debate the so-called budget. As I said earlier, extraordinary and desperate situations call for desperate measures. We have been vindicated that there is more than one way to skin a cat.
“As a party, we have adopted a less attractive but legitimate way when all else failed and it has worked. The people of Nigeria are the beneficiaries,” Gbajabiamila said through his aide.
The budget was stalled last week when Emmanuel Jime (APC, Benue) observed that the 2014 Appropriation Bill did not fulfill the requirements of the Fiscal Responsibility Act, as estimates of some agencies were not sent to the lawmakers along with the budget.
Jime’s observation, which compelled the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to seek clarification on the matter from the House Committee Chairman on Appropriation and subsequently raised a six-man advisory to advise the House, caused the delay in reading the budget bill for the second time.
Mbu was redeployed to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) last Thursday.
Stay updated with Abusidiqu.com, a member of the NIGERIANEWSBEAT team. Follow us on TWITTER or be our fan on FACEBOOK
Do not hesitate to leave your opinion in the comment section below.
To contact Abusidiqu.com for Article Submission and Advertisement or General inquiry, send a mail to info@abusidiqu.com
