Ekweremadu Speaks On How President Buhari Slows Down Passage Of Budget

President Muhammadu Buhari has been accused of budget delay in the last four years by the Senate Deputy President, Ike Ekweremadu.

The statement came in his reaction to the debate led on the 2019 N8.83 trillion budget by the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan on Tuesday.

The Senate started the second reading on the budget which was presented by President Buhari on the 19th of December 2018, but could not debate on the proposal due to breaks.

Ekweremadu in his statement reminded his colleagues that, “the constitutional provision for the nation’s financial year”, has been from January to December of each year.

He claimed that the President present the budget towards the end of December which is the break season thereby making it impossible for quick passage.

“Mr President, my distinguished colleagues, I must commend the Senate leader, for the elaborate lead debate on the budget.”

“However, the executive is always responsible for the budget delay. Section 318 of the 1999 Constitution as amended provided the budget circle from January to December of every year.”

“In laying the annual budget before us late December as he has been doing makes it difficult for us to meet up with January to December requirements.”

He further stated that agriculture in Nigeria is also affected by the late passage of the budget as farmers could not access funds for commercial farming.