Senate to Pass N4.648tr 2012 Budget Today

Indications emerged Wednesday that the N4.648 trillion 2012 federal budget may finally scale through the Senate’s legislative mill Thursday, as senators warm up for its passage.

The final report on the budget was to have been presented at Wednesday’s plenary session by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Ahmad Maccido (PDP, Sokoto North), but he pleaded that its consideration be shelved till today to allow for the harmonisation of some identified  “grey areas” in the report.

The breakdown of the budget showed that N2.432 trillion is for recurrent expenditure, while N1.284 trillion is for capital expenditure.

Others included N372. 593 billion meant for statutory transfer, just as N559.580 billion is for debt service.

Meanwhile, the Senate has once again advised any Nigerian having any concern with the 1999 Constitution or any other issues of national importance to channel such by way of private member bill to the National Assembly.

Citing a bill seeking to alter the 1999 Constitution brought by former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Olisa Agbakoba to buttress his claim, the Senate spokesman, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe (PDP, Abia South), said there is nothing under the sun that cannot be discussed by the Senate.

He said that if any Nigerian does not trust his representative in the National Assembly, he or she could sponsor a bill through another lawmaker.