Senate threatens to stop work on 2011 budget – Daily Trust

The Senate yesterday threatened to suspend consideration of the 2011 Appropriation Bill due to refusal of the President Goodluck Jonathan administration to forward budget estimates of some key government agencies to the National Assembly for approval. A letter by the Chairman Senate Committee on Appropriation Senator Iyiola Omisore to Senate President David Mark obtained by newsmen yesterday said Senate Committees may in line with Section 21 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act stop further consideration of the budget until the estimates of the affected agencies are forwarded to it.

Omisore said, “Despite our concerted efforts, with repeated phone calls, personal visits and interaction with the ministry of finance, the budget estimate of the agencies have not been submitted and non compliance has caused the delay in the passage of the budget as planned.

“We wish to reiterate that any further delay to submit the budget of these agencies may continue to affect the passage of the bill as we don’t want to go against the Act of the parliament.”