NAS to pass an inflated 2018 budget after six months delay

The National Assembly on Tuesday, move to pass an inflated 2018 appropriation bill, following its approval of the sum of N9.12 trillion for the 2018 fiscal year.

According to the report submitted to both Senate and House of Representatives, the budget was raised by N508.33 billion, six months after President Muhammadu Buhari presented the document to the National Assembly.

Chairman of the Senate committee on appropriation, Danjuma Goje, presented the budget to the upper legislative chamber at plenary on Tuesday, May 15, 2018.

Details in the report indicates that the National Assembly increased the 2018 budget from N8.6 trillion to N9.120 trillion.

Senate President Bukola Saraki had assured President Buhari of the passage of the 2018 appropriation bill during their visit to the villa.

Similarly, Senate spokesman Sabi Abdullahi, said the 2018 budget would be passed on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

The National Assembly had blamed the delay in the passage of the 2018 budget on the failure of some heads of government agencies and parastatals to show up for their defence.

Meanwhile, the ad hoc committee of the House of Representatives on the Petroleum Industry Bill started a public hearing on the three remaining parts of the Petroleum  Industry Bill (PIB) on Tuesday.

Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Yakubu Dogara, at the opening, stated that the Bill being processed by the National Assembly will enable Nigeria operate at efficiency standards expected of 21^st century oil and gas industry.

The committee, which, is chaired by the Chief Whip of the House, Mr. Alhassan Ado-Doguwa, presented the three bills.

They are the Petroleum Industry Fiscal Bill, 2018; Petroleum Producing Host and Impacted Communities Bill, 2018; and Petroleum Industry Administration Bill, 2018.