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The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu has said no law was broken over the insertions made by the National Assembly (NASS) into the 2024 budget.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Senator Bagudu, who said this at a press conference in Abuja, stressed that the (NASS) did not violate any laws in regards to the reported new insertions in the 2024 budget.
“Since 1999, it has been customary for the National Assembly to include new line items in the Appropriation Bill bill to fund specific projects in their constituencies,” Bagudu said.
The Budget Minister went further to say this practice often results in an increase in the approved budget from what was initially presented by the President.
TNG recalls the Senate had been rattled by a padding scandal after now-suspended Bauchi Central lawmaker, Senator Abdul Ningi claimed the sum of N3.7 trillion was padded into the 2024 budget.
Subsequently, reports emerged that the insertions made by the NASS into the budget were not tied to any project. Ningi also claimed projects were skewed to favour some parts of the country in the 2024 budget.
The Bauchi Central Senator was reported to have made the claims during a BBC Hausa Service interview last weekend.
Following the allegations levelled against the red chamber, the Senate suspended Ningi, asking him not to participate in all the activities of the 10th Senate.
Reacting to the development, Bagudu stressed that the NASS has the right to increase the budget line and that even if they pass an appropriation and the President refuses to assent, it becomes law after 30 days.
“There has been a long debate, and a former president went up to the Supreme Court to define the appropriation power of the executive and the National Assembly.
“Later, there was an out-of-court settlement. Until now, this issue has not been resolved.
“So, what is the power of the National Assembly as regards the budget? There is no Supreme Court judgement, and the choice of our democracy is that the National Assembly has the last word.
“Even when they pass an appropriation, that assent is refused, and after 30 days, it becomes law.
“Do they have the right to increase a budget line? I will say yes,” Bagudu said.
He also mentioned that there is a misunderstanding regarding why budgets for agencies classified as statutory transfers do not have their budget line items disclosed.
He said: “These are transfers for agencies that are created by the constitution or legislation. So, they have the right to draw up their own budget.
“They can be supervised by a committee, but it is not the federal government that appropriates for them; the most popular ones are the NJC, FCT, Tertiary Education Trust Fund, NEDC, NDDC, and others”.