We Didn't Abandon Budget 2011 For Electioneering - Senate

ABUJA, FEB 07, (THEWILL) The Senate yesterday debunked reports that it has abandoned work on the 2011 budget for electioneering saying such insinuations are far from the truth as both chambers are seriously working to see that the final document is ready on time.

Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Iyiola Omisore who reacted to the report, said work on the Budget is ongoing contrary to reports in a section of the media indicating that the lawmakers have abandoned the budget to concentrate on the April election.

The standing Committees of the two chambers he stated are working on the budget document.

According to him many Committees had conducted budget sessions with ministries and parastatals that fall within their purview in the last one week.

Omisore further informed that the two chambers of the National Assembly had given clear words to the Appropriation Committees when they adjourned plenary in January.

“When the House of Representatives adjourned sitting, the Speaker made it clear that the Committee on Appropriation would continue its work. The same assurance was done by Senate President David Mark.

“As responsible citizens, we will not abandon the budget in pursuant of personal matters, no matter how pressing. We have organized ourselves in such a way that the business of the National Assembly will not suffer, despite the ongoing electioneering,” he said.

The Senator stated that Committees of the Senate and the House were working seriously on the budget, adding that Nigerians would see the result of their performance with the presentation of the budget in a matter of days.

“We heard clear instructions from the Presiding officers while we embarked on recess. It was just a suspension of the plenary but the budget work continues. Committees have been meeting with stakeholders and MDAs. The budget is the livewire of the economy and you don’t expect a responsible National Assembly to abandon it to pursue matters that only affect individual members,” Omisore said.