President Muhammadu Buhari again on Monday decried the alleged delay in the passage of the 2018 Appropriation Bill by the National Assembly.
The President said he hoped the legislature would give the next budget a speedy treatment.
Buhari spoke at the opening session of the 1st National Assembly Open Week held in Abuja on Monday, where he was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha.
Buhari said, “In the spirit of the open week of interaction for good governance, let me address the important issue of recognising the budget as a tool of economic development. As I reiterated in my speech during the signing of the 2018 Appropriation Bill into law, I had hoped that the usual legislative review process would be quick when I submitted the proposal in November, 2017, in order to return to a predictable January to December Financial Year.
“While my desire was premised on the need to bring about better development outcomes in 2018 using the budget, it was regrettable that the required executive-legislative collaboration was not reflected in the time it took to pass the bill.
“I must also mention that the government has noted the detailed response to the issues raised at the signing ceremony of the 2018 Appropriation Bill. The point to underscore firmly is that a stronger and more cordial executive-legislative relationship must exist in the interest of the nation and the people that elected us into office. It must be a win-win situation for all Nigerians.”
The President noted the importance of oversight activities of the legislature “to ensure efficient, equitable and the judicious use of resources to bring about the delivery of service by the executive.”
He said, “It is the expectation of this administration that the processes of oversight would be given adequate time for discussion during the week in other to fine-tune it.”
Buhari, who also noted that the principle of separation of powers was enshrined in the Constitution, said, “I wish to state that since my assumption of office in May 2015, I have maintained a position that favours and supports the true independence of the various arms of government, including the National Assembly, perhaps, more than any administration in this country.
“You are all aware of my open commitment to working with any set of the leadership of the National Assembly that emerges, and I have remained true to it. This commitment is expected to take us beyond politics when dealing with the well-being of our citizens. We must continue to demonstrate our resolve to work harmoniously, while respecting the principles of separation of powers.”
In their speeches, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, urged the other arms of government particularly the executive to obey democratic principles such as the rule of law and separation of powers.
Saraki, who said the legislature was the most misunderstood arm of government especially on budget-related matters, denied that the National Assembly held on to the 2018 Appropriation Bill.
The Senate President stated that it was necessary for both arms of government to better understand one another through “compromise, consultation and engagement.”
Saraki added, “However, it remains a concern that, because the legislature is the youngest arm of government in Nigeria, it is the most misunderstood. This is largely due to an abiding misconception as to the role of the legislature and the work we are doing to stabilise democracy and ensure accountability in governance.”
In the same vein, Dogara said it was his hope that the new phase of openness that was being launched by the National Assembly would afford Nigerians the opportunity to better understand the workings of the legislature in proper perspectives.
“I say this because many Nigerians do not quite understand the functions of the parliament in carrying out its constitutionally assigned roles and responsibilities,” he noted.
The Speaker said, “Permit me to use this occasion to reiterate that the legislature is the paramount arm of government because the whole idea of limited government and representative democracy begins and ends with lawmaking and execution of laws. This reality has not dawned on many Nigerians mainly because of our military era experiences during which the elected legislature was always disbanded at the slightest sound of martial music.”
Dogara emphasised that in a modern democracy, all the three arms of government must function effectively for good governance to be entrenched. He, however, stated that such could only happen if the principles of democracy were preserved.
