The fate of Budget 2017
It could be recalled that in February, President Muhammadu Buhari and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, promised the country that the 2017 budget will be passed in March. However that deadline could not be met and the National Assembly has again set another deadline for April 27.
But there are danger signals that the April 27 deadline may yet again be missed. The ten Senate standing committees are yet to submit their budget reports on Ministries, Departments and Agencies. These may not be entirely the fault of the Senate standing committees. Last week, the Senate spokesman, Abdullahi Sabi warned that the 2017 budget passage may be delayed, owing to the failure of government MDAs to appear for their budget defence. Equally, Danjuma Goje, chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriation reminded the nation that ten ministries were yet to meet their deadlines.
And, last week, the Senate adjourned for Easter break for two weeks, to resume April 25. Resuming just two days ahead of its stated deadline of April 27 and with major works still left undone, it is clear the national assembly will be unable to pass the budget in April.
Although, some of the factors causing the delays may be beyond the control of the national assembly, one would expect that they, at least, show some urgency by working extra hours rather than quickly down tool and rush off to another two-week recess, after just coming back from another recess. But not our lawmakers, who cannot sacrifice their holidays for a worthy national cause.
But they miss an opportunity to show leadership and urgency in tackling urgent national challenges. Currently, Nigeria has barely a month to approve the proposed budget for 2017, with last year’s budget elapsing May 5th. With the April 27 deadline looking increasingly infeasible, Nigeria’s economic malaise may linger. A passage delay of the 2017 budget threatens to undermine the implementation of the National Economic Recovery and Growth Plan, which is hinged on the said budget, and tailored to restore economic growth.
But perhaps, we need to remind both the executive that is lethargic about the budget and the national assembly that is content to sit back and watch the executive run the country aground that those who suffer the economic consequences of delayed budget passage in a recessionary economy are not the fat cats in the executive and legislature, but firms, individuals and households who need any relief they can get from economic hardship plaguing the land!
We are not unaware that perhaps, the real problem hindering the passage of the Budget may be the power play and squabble between the executive and the legislature. True, in a democracy this is not unusual. We also sympathise with the national assembly who are fighting hard to prevent the emasculation of the legislative arm of government by the executive.
But the national assembly still needs to realize that the budget touches fundamentally on the well being of the people for whom it claims to be fighting for. They must redouble their efforts when they resume and ensure the budget is passed speedily without further delay.