OpenNASS: Senate sets new deadline to publish NASS budget breakdown

The Senate on Monday in Abuja, set a new deadline for publishing the breakdown of its N115 billion budget for 2016.

The Spokes Person of the Senate Sen. Sabi Abdullahi, disclosed to news men that the breakdown of the National Assembly budget would be contained in the 2016 Budget details that would be released.

BREAKING NEWS: Senate Passes 2016 Budget

The Nigeria senate on Wenesday after considering the report of the Conference Committee on the 2016, 2017 and 2018 Medium Term Expenditure Frame work (MTEF) and Fiscal Strategy Paper, (FSP) considered and passed the 2016 Appropriation Bill.

The lawmakers in the committee of supply critically reviewed  and approved the  11 clause budget in its totality.

Details later....

National Assembly fails to lay Budget: sets new date

The National Assembly on Thursday, failed to lay the 2016 budget for commencement of consideration and passage as promised but has set a new date for laying the budget document.

The spokesperson of the Senate Sen. Abdulahi Sabi on Wednesday at a joint news conference said that the National Assembly would be unable to pass the budget on March 17 as earlier promised.

NASS To Pass 2016 Budget March 17th

Joint Session of Lawmakers

The National Assembly on Wednesday stated that it will pass the 2016 Budget on Thursday, March 17.

Recall that the passage of the Budget was postponed earlier by the National Assembly due to discrepancies inherent in the N6.08 trillion proposed Budget.

Addressing a joint press conference jointly, chairmen of the Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Senator Danjuma Goje and Hon. Jibrin Abdulmumin, respectively, said that they will lay their reports at both chambers on Wednesday, March 16, after which it will be considered and passed the next day.

The Nigerian Senate Commences 2016 Budget Reports Collation

The Nigerian Senate began the process of passing the 2016 Appropriation Bill today, the Bill which is scheduled for passage in March, as its Committee on Appropriation has commenced the collation of the 2016 Budget reports from the various sub-committees of the Chamber.

The collation was a fulfillment of the earlier promise made by the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Danjuma Goje.

Buhari Seeks Extension of 2015 Budget Implementation for FCT

President Muhammadu Buhari has sought the extension of implementation of the Budget of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to enable the FCT pay for pending critical to the FCT were still pending. 

In a letter sent to the Senate on Tuesday, President Buhari noted that the FCT administration only had seven months in 2015 for implementing its budget which was signed in May 2015.

Senate Queries Zero Implementation Of 2015 Road Contracts.

Senate Committee on Works on Wednesday in Abuja queried the zero implementation of some 11 road contracts that were awarded by the Ministry of Works, despite the release of their mobilisation fees.

Chairman of the Committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya, who queried the development during the 2016 Budget defence of the Ministry, declared the action as unacceptable.

Senate Summons AGF Over NDDC Funding‎

Senate on Wednesday summoned the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Ahmed Idris, to appear before it over the non remittances of some Federal Government agencies' contributions to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

This was sequel to the directive from the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi, when the management of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and Ecological Fund Office (EFO) appeared before the panel to explain reasons why they were not making their obligation to the NDDC.

Senate Expresses Concern Over N350m Swap Scheme

Senate's legislative scrutiny into the 2016 Budget proposal produced another shocking revelation on Tuesday as some N350 million alleged fraud was discovered in the land swap scheme for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) through the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).

Chairman Senate Committee on FCT, Senator Dino Melaye, said that the Committee will not hesitate to ensure that all administrative anomalies, misappropriation of funds or abuse of law by the past administration of the FCT demands  justice‎

He stressed that such an important project is expected to undergo a pilot scheme engaging one or two districts as projects samples.

2016 Budget Defense: Power Minister Defends Tariff Increase ‎

Power minister defends tariff increase, says it will increase power.

‎The Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola, on Tuesday in Abuja, defended the increment in tariff saying that it will result to improved power supply. ‎

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He spoke after defending the budget of the ministry before the Senate Committee on Power said that investors would pull out if they could not get returns on their investments.

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Women, ‎the Bedrock of Governance - Oduah

Senator  Stella Oduah the Lawmaker representing Anambra Senatorial district and vice chairman committee on Women Affairs ‎ has described women Affairs as the Bedrock of the society.

She stated this on Wenesday, 27th January 2016 at the inaugural meeting of the committee of women Affairs held at the National Assembly complex ‎Abuja.

‎Tinubu Condemns 2016 Budget Proposal

Senator Oluremi Tinubu ‎( APC Lagos Central) has condemned the 2016 budget proposal of President Muhammadu Buhari  saying it lacks provision for Women development.

The Lawmaker while contributing to the budget consideration stated that the allocations to the Women Affairs Ministry is the least and lacks provision for the welfare and development of women. 

2016 Budget: Ekweremmadu, others Warns Against Borrowing

The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, on Wednesday in Abuja, condemned the enormous borrowing plans of the federal goverment as reflected in the 2016 budget proposal while advocating fair distribution of projects.

Ekweremadu made the call while contributing to the debate on the consideration of the general principles of the proposed 2016 budget.

Lawmaker Faults 2016 Budget Proposal, Calls for Withdrawal.

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe on Wednesday 20th January 2016 during consideration faulted 2016 budget proposal and called on President Muhammaduu Buhari to withdraw it and go back to the drawing board.

The Abia South lawmaker stated that predication of oil benchmark at $38 per barrel when oil prices had fallen below $30 per barel makes the budget not feasible.

Senator Faults Late Submission of 2016 Budget

Chief-Whip of the 8th Senate Olusaola Adeyeye (APC Osun Central) has faulted the late submission of 2016 budget and previous budget saying that it gives little time for quality consideration.

Adeyeye while making contributions on the floor of the Senate during the consideration of the Budget proposal, blamed the National Assembly for the failure of previous budgets.
He said that the time within which budgets are considered and passed in Nigeria was too short exemplifying that it took the United States Congress about eight months to pass the budget.

2016 Budget: Buhari Notifies National Assembly of Corrections

President Muhammadu Buhari has written the National Assembly, notifying the legislative body of the corrected version of the 2016 appropriation bill.

The President of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, read Mr. Buhari's letter at the Senate plenary on Tuesday.

Senate Finally Confirms 2016 Budget Missing

Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe in a motion has confirmed that the budget is indeed missing against denial by the senate leader, Ali Ndume in the early hours of this morning that the budget is safe and intact.

Senate president Bukola Saraki stated that the issue has been reffered to a specific lawmakers to investigate while they await a feedback.

Senate to Commence Consideration of 2016 budget.

The senate will commence consideration of the missing 2016 budget proposal from Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st of January 2016.

President of the senate Bukola Saraki made this announcement at the beginning of plenary today 13th January 2016.

He called on his colleagues to commence indications on when to make contributions on various areas of the budget.

2016 Budget Safe and Intact - Senate

Following the rumour credited to the leader of the 8th senate Ali Ndume that the 2016 budget is missing from the National Assembly, the senate has refuted such claims.