2023 Budget: Senate to receive report on N20.5trn estimate on November 30th
…insists committees must adhere to timetable
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Jibrin Barau has disclosed that reports on N20.5trillion 2023 budgetary proposals presented to joint session of the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari last month , is to be laid on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.
This is as Senator Barau (APC Kano North), urged Chairmen of the various committees to adhere strictly to time table drawn for consideration of the budget.
Senator Barau who briefed journalists Friday on planned programme for budget consideration at committee level and report presentation in plenary, said strict adherence is expected from all the committees .
The Committee adjourned its maiden meeting on Friday to Monday due to failure of committee heafs to appear before it for submission of reports.
He mentioned that committees have been given another chance to appear from Monday with a subtle warning that failure to comply will force the main committee to do the job for them.
He added that collation/harmonization of Reports by Appropriations Committee under his leadership , will take place from Friday , 11th November to Friday , 25th November , 2022.
According to him, budget hearings/engagements with heads of Ministries , Departments and Agencies ( MDAs), by Appropriations sub – committees, are expected to take place from 13th October to 3rd November; submission and defence of budget reports by the sub – committees, are fixed for 4th to 11th November 2022.
Barau also directed the Clerk of the committee to write all those concerned again emphasised the need to adhere strictly to the time table to ensure that the budget will be passed in December.
“I want to say again that we shall not fail to go on with our commitment, making sure we do everything humanly possible to get this budget passed before the end of this year. It has been the practice in this 9th National Assembly and we shall not derail this laudable practice that everybody is happy with.
“We must adhere strictly to the time table. Those who have not appeared today, we give them another chance to appear on Monday. If they refuse to appear on Monday, and I hope they will not. We are optimistic they will appear on Monday.
“If you don’t appear, of course we have our way of dealing with that kind of problem because the Appropriation Committee will then take charge of what they are supposed to do, not really taking into consideration what they are supposed to bring ab initio.
“Normally the sub committee will liaise with the ministry, department and agencies (MDAs) under its purview, interact with them, scrutinise the budget and bring the report to us”, he said.
Adjourning the meeting, Barau stated that laying/Presentation of the report by Appropriations Committee to the Senate in plenary, is fixed for Wednesday, 30th November, 2022″.
