Supplementary budget caught in Reps-Executive row

The Federal Government's supplementary budget proposal, on Thursday, scaled second reading in the House of Representatives amid protests by many members who kicked against fresh approvals for the Federal Capital Territory administration.

Voice votes were in favour of those against the passage; but the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole, ruled down the opposition that had thickened after members said they noticed discrepancies in the presentation proposed for Abuja.

The bill sent by President Umaru Yar'adua, last week, proposes spending to cover the post amnesty intervention programme, railway modernization and housing projects in Abuja.

Although lawmakers questioned the magnitude of the proposed projects and the timing of the Bill, coming barely 40 days before the end of the year, Mr. Bankole's effort at securing its quick passage, was rebuffed mainly by the fiscal clauses that relate to the FCT.

"By the time we are done here and the president signs this into law, it would have been less than 30 days to go for this year, how are we going to execute all these projects?," asked Ali Ndume, (Action Congress, Borno State).

The members complained that the construction of twin expressways in Abuja which are represented in the budget, were supposed to be funded through a public private partnership as initially explained by the FCT Minister, Adamu Aliero.

The Minister, while defending the project before the House Committee on Finance, had explained that they were to be placed on a finance facility based on the collaboration of the government and the private sector, the committee's deputy chairperson, Leo Delian said.

Having over N44 billion pencilled again for the completion of the same Airport and Kubwa roads, was viewed as being inconsistent with Mr. Aliero's earlier explanations.

Our eyes are open "As the purse of the nation, there is no responsible parliament that can be blinded to undermine the issues raised on this budget," said Halims Agoda in reaction to the Speaker's repeated attempts to calm the opposition.

That observation seemed to have opened an opportunity against Mr. Aliero, viewed as being characteristically quick at ignoring past resolutions of the House. Orders passed previously for the reversal of the increased tenement rate of land in Abuja, were yet to be complied with.

Also recently, the Minister remarked that the speed breakers constructed on major routes across the city, will remain even after an order for their removal was issued by the House and the Senate. Mr. Aliero, himself a former Senator, had reportedly said that he is not bound by resolutions emanating from the National Assembly.

Many members flouted Mr. Bankole's request that the bill be debated upon only on its general principles and not pertaining to a particular detail.

Although the rules will permit that to be done before the bill is passed, the lawmakers insisted on suspending every proposed spending for the FCT partly as a repay for the Minister's alleged insubordination, and also until clarifications are made on the controversial project.